Nobumichi Hattori
Message from Outside Director

Based on my experience and expertise, I offer advice aimed at enhancing shareholder value and facilitating effective communication with the capital market. As an outside director, I consider myself a representative of the capital market. As such, I anticipate the market's questions and opinions and bring them to the Board of Directors. While all stakeholders are important, I believe that emphasizing shareholder value serves as a measure and delivers the most balanced outcomes for all stakeholders.

When I joined the Board of Directors as an outside director in 2015, Board discussions were not exactly spirited. However, as the number of outside directors increased to two, then three, and then to four, I have sensed the Board becoming significantly more active. More outside directors has led to more diverse opinions shared from different perspectives, creating a positive sense of tension. I believe the Company's governance is improving steadily.

The advertising industry is currently experiencing a once-in-a-century period of transformation, as new business models emerge, and the entire Group is being called on to adapt to these changes. Over the past few years, the Company has invested significantly in digitalization and expanding its overseas business. In the digital field, it is crucial to identify winning technology platforms, and the Group has actively pursued investments, including mergers and acquisitions, to ensure their effectiveness going forward. In overseas businesses, investment in kyu, which comprises a portfolio of creative and relatively small-scale business, has already achieved a certain level of scale. Now is the time to realize synergies within kyu and across the entire Group, and to contribute visibly to shareholder value.
I will continue to offer advice from an objective perspective and provide various types of support that will contribute to the growth of the Group and augment shareholder value.