Japanese agency I&S BBDO has announced two internal leadership promotions, effective October 1, 2026, as part of its continued growth strategy. Yoshihiro Nagai, currently President & Representative Director, will become Chairman & CEO, Representative Director. Kenji Kuboshita, currently Executive Officer, Managing Director, will be appointed President, Director, bringing considerable leadership experience and a strong track record of driving client success and business growth to the role.
Yoshihiro Nagai began his career at Dentsu in 1985 and went on to serve in a series of key executive roles across the group’s international operations. He joined I&S BBDO in 2018, advancing from Executive Officer to President, Director, and was appointed President & Representative Director in 2021. Drawing on his extensive global business experience and proven leadership, he has played a pivotal role in accelerating the company’s growth and leading its ongoing transformation. As Chairman & CEO, Representative Director, he will oversee the three companies in the I&S BBDO group in Japan, while working closely with the global Omnicom network to drive sustainable growth and enhance corporate value.
Kenji Kuboshita joined I&S BBDO in 1990 and managed marketing and communications initiatives for both domestic and international clients. From 2004 to 2019, he held a series of leadership roles at Havas Worldwide Japan (now Havas Japan), including Client Services Director and Business Director. He rejoined I&S BBDO in 2019 and has served as Executive Officer since 2022. With more than 35 years of experience in the advertising and marketing industry, he has contributed to building strong client partnerships and driving business growth. As President and Director, Kuboshita will lead the overall operations of I&S BBDO and, in close collaboration with other Omnicom Group companies in Japan, lead the agency’s continued growth and strengthen its ability to deliver integrated solutions for clients.
Yoshihiro Nagai, incoming Chairman & CEO, Representative Director, said, “Kuboshita has made valuable contributions to our clients and our business through a variety of leadership roles. I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to build on the strong foundation of I&S BBDO.”
Sean Donovan, President of Omnicom Advertising, Asia, commented, “Nagai’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping I&S BBDO, and this transition to Chairman & CEO is a fitting recognition of the legacy he’s built over the years. Kuboshita has been at the heart of that journey, and I have complete confidence in his ability to build on this foundation and take the agency into an exciting new chapter.”
Kenji Kuboshita, incoming President, Director, said, “Building on I&S BBDO’s longstanding strengths in creativity and deep client understanding, I look forward to leading the company into its next phase of growth. In an increasingly dynamic and complex marketplace, we remain committed to using the power of creativity to solve our clients’ business challenges and serving as a trusted partner that contributes to their continued success.”
As it enters a new chapter under this renewed leadership, the agency intends to build on its strengths while leveraging its position within Omnicom’s connected growth platform in Japan, offering greater intelligence, deeper capabilities and more seamless access to specialist expertise across the network. This allows I&S BBDO to deliver even greater value for clients, combining the agency’s creative heritage with the scale, data and technology of one of the world’s leading marketing organizations.
