"Grade D" Ad agency - Run, don't walk away. - Anonymous employee Dentsu Employee Review

1.0
Jan 7, 2013
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Many Non-management staff are great people.

Cons

Upper Management is clueless, antiquated beyond belief and does not appreciate, reward or recognize good talent or creative. Poor character traits exist in most who are leading the agency. Dated views, technology, services and protocols. No process and lack of structure. One of the worst agencies I've seen. This place is run like a high school clique, with immature favorites who must be subordinate to succeed (without recognition or promotion). Inappropriate relationships between managers and subordinates. Information is on a "need to know" basis and job expectations are that you execute what you are told without question or input. Many in upper management gossip like teenagers, stab others in the back while smiling to their faces. Screaming is common. Totally unprofessional, toxic and poor work quality. Clients are dissatisfied.

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5.0
Jul 2, 2026
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CEO approval
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Pros

Great culture, excellent team, good pay

Cons

becomes stagnant after few years, repetitive tasks

4.0
Jun 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I’ve been with dentsu for 4 years and I’ve really enjoyed my time. I’ve learned a lot, and worked with very smart people internally and had had interesting clients externally. Making the jump to a big agency was lethal in my professional career. This company offers great flexibility, and awesome PTO. I was able to get promoted, however promotions take a long time.

Cons

Some clients are extremely demanding. Long nights where the clients want to activate something that day or next day and our own internal teams don’t have our back and are also pushing for out of control activations. In my 4 years here, we had one annual salary raise which is not acceptable or fair to everyone. The market rate is way above what we’re getting paid. Dentsu needs to keep up as they’re on the lower end of the pay range and people are leaving because we’re losing hope of ever getting a salary raise when we could job hop and easily get 20% more. Truly disappointing since I have enjoyed my time here. The company has lost major clients and it’s difficult to feel hope for any promotions or raises.

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