Tim Andree set to become first non-Japanese Dentsu board member

Dentsu's board met yesterday to select candidates for the board, who will assume their positions after a general shareholders meeting in June. Andree will also become an executive officer of the company effective 1 April.

"This will be the first time that a non-Japanese will hold this position," a spokesperson told Campaign Asia-Pacific. "We expect him to lead our global growth strategy going forward."

Andree has been with Dentsu since 2006, first as chairman of Dentsu America and later as president and CEO of Dentsu Network. Prior to Dentsu he held communications positions with the NBA (National Basketball Association), BASF, Canon and Toyota. He is also a former basketball player who was drafted into the NBA by the Chicago Bulls in 1983 but spent most of his career playing in Europe and Japan.

Dentsu's upcoming board changes also include the retirement of Tatsuyoshi Takashima as chairman of the board. He will become a chairman of the company.

Dentsu also recorded a first in October last year when it named Dick van Motman, former CEO of DDB Greater China, as chairman and CEO to lead its operations in Southeast Asia and Oceania.