Being a bridge：

Hakuhodo made its largest-ever overseas acquisition in April 2020, when it acquired Growww Media, the first major independent ad agency group to be listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. Growww comprises five operating groups, a total of 26 companies, including United Communications Group, one of Taiwan’s oldest ad agencies. Together, they provide top-class services in the integrated marketing, activation, PR, events and exhibitions, and digital marketing domains. With over 700 employees, Growww becomes one of Hakuhodo’s largest overseas companies.

I relocated to Taiwan—leaving my family behind—as Hakuhodo’s representative at Growww in May 2020, in the midst of the pandemic.

I didn’t think that attempting to do too much or trying to foist Head Office’s ideas and preferences on Growww was the way to go. So I decided the best approach would be to engage sincerely with my new colleagues.

Yes, I’d become a bridge.

I’d become a bridge between Growww’s five operating companies and between Growww and Head Office.

I’d get to know them by talking with them.

I’d get them to open up to Hakuhodo by talking with them.

Information would flow freer the more we talked to each other.

I’ve been in my post for almost a year now. My mission to be a bridge is still ongoing, but synergies between the companies are forming and producing great results, plus I now have lots of new, trusted comrades.

Roles and titles current when this article was published in May 2021.