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Hakuhodo International Vietnam has made changes in its senior leadership to improve the integration of the Southeast Asian operations. On March 18th, 2026, Naoyuki Kawakita will be promoted to the ASEAN Regional Chief Operating Officer from the Group President of Hakuhodo International Vietnam.
Also, Yuta Sasaki, the current CEO of Hakuhodo SAC, will become the Group President of Hakuhodo International Vietnam.
The changes are a response to the demand from clients for consistency in cross-border operations, data lead planning, and a unified operating model throughout ASEAN.
The multinational brands have aggressively grown as clients are acquiring new brands in fragmented markets throughout the ASEAN region.
Kawakita has created more capabilities for Hakuhodo International Vietnam, including creative writing, digital media, media services and consulting services, to assist over 800 professional staff at Hakuhodo International Vietnam in creating award-winning work while experiencing continued revenue growth.
In his new ASEAN position, Kawakita will focus on enhancing collaboration between the various ASEAN markets with the enhancement of data-driven marketing capabilities to assist clients in executing their expansion plans.
“ASEAN represents one of the most dynamic growth regions globally,” said Kawakita. “By strengthening integration across markets and capabilities, we aim to provide more seamless and borderless solutions.”
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The appointment reflects Hakuhodo's wider ambitions as it aligns its Southeast Asia footprint with a more unified leadership structure. Sasaki will lead the Vietnam group and has been with the Hakuhodo network for two decades in various senior digital roles, having previously led Hakuhodo SAC in Thailand.
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He has worked on clients in the automotive and financial services sectors as well as FMCG, and he has experience with digital transformation and performance-based strategies. Sasaki said: "Vietnam is an important strategic market in the ASEAN region. We will continue to create integrated solutions using creativity, technology and consulting to achieve tangible business benefits."
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The leadership change is part of a broader trend across all global agency networks in Southeast Asia, where the growth markets of Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia are increasingly becoming important to regional expansion strategies.