Havas Japan appoints Ryuji Mitsuishi Banderas as managing director and promotes Stephen Cox

Close on the heels of forming a North Asia sub-region, in sync with its global “Together” strategy of collaboration and integration, Havas has appointed Ryuji Mitsuishi Banderas as Managing Director, Havas Japan. The appointment is a part of a new management structure to support Havas’s rapid growth and expansion in North Asia. In his new role, Mitsuishi ( pictured) will lead the creative side of the business with a focus on client service, strategic thinking, innovation and effectiveness, reporting to Levent Guenes, Chairman & CEO of North Asia.

Mitsuishi joins Havas from Google Japan where he held a variety of positions focusing on brand strategy and creativity. Prior to Google, Mitsuishi worked at agencies such as MRM/McCann Worldgroup, DDB and Beacon communications, where he led local and global digital/creative strategies for international and local brands.

Additionally, Stephen Cox, previously, CEO of Havas Japan has been elevated to the newly created role of Vice Chairman and Chief Integration Officer, North Asia, reporting to Guenes. Cox will focus on collaboration between Havas and the Vivendi Group companies – Universal Music Group, Daily Motion, Gameloft, and Canal+ Group – as well as assist Guenes on strategic inorganic growth to strengthen the Havas value proposition. This will help clients navigate the transforming marketing and consumer landscape in these key markets.

Guenes said, “Japan and Korea are fast-moving markets rooted in innovation, creativity and technology. The creation of our North Asia sub-region adds a key pillar in our journey of moving to a single Havas Group APAC leadership structure, as part of accelerating our global ‘Together’ strategy. Stephen’s promotion will facilitate the collaboration between Havas Group and Vivendi – which is significant in this region – to create a powerful marketing force, unique only to Havas. Ryuji’s proven track record of building and enhancing brand capabilities with digital and creativity at the core will help us to position Havas Japan for long term success. I am delighted with the appointments and welcome Stephen and Ryuji in their new roles.

The sub-regional structure for North Asia, earlier, saw Guenes being appointed as Chairman & CEO of North Asia, in addition to his current role of Chief Growth Officer, Asia Pacific. Guenes is responsible for leading the strategic vision for the region, paired with a particular focus on inorganic growth supported by his extensive experience in leading a diverse sub-region like Southeast Asia and more recently the M&A function in APAC.

Under the new structure, Toshio Naka will continue in his role as Managing Director Havas Japan (Media) while Joseph Rhee will continue to manage Havas – South Korea.

“Havas is a dynamic and growing agency with a compelling value-proposition. I am delighted to be a part of Havas Japan, leading the creative team and contributing to the agency’s continued success,” said Mitsuishi.

“The Havas model of being more client-centric by breaking the silos that exist within the media and creative functions will help us develop synergies that will drive Havas and the industry forward in this region. I look forward to working closely with Levent, Joseph, Toshio, and Ryuji as well as the Vivendi companies to drive our amibition to be a network to reckon with in this region,” added Cox.

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