Yukio NAKAYAMA
Executive Creative Director,
Dentsu/Global Solutions Ctr, Tokyo

Yukio Nakayama graduated from Kyoto University with a major in biophysics. Given his academic background, everybody asked why he decided to work in advertising. To this day, no one really knows.

After 7 years at Dentsu, he received his first Grand Prix at an award show. Since then, he has won 12 Grand Prix at both international and domestic awards. Over the years, he has worked for major clients such as Sony, BMW, Shiseido and Suntory, covering a wide range of fields.

Yukio is also an experienced judge, and has enjoyed joining jury panels at Cannes, Clio, Adfest, and of course, Cresta among others. He has also been speaking on the topic of Japanese and Asian creativity for international audiences in Cannes, Beijing, Jaipur, Bangkok, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, and Sao Paulo.

In 2006, Yukio returned to the academic field after 30 years, by becoming the only Asian in the inaugural class at the renowned Berlin School of Creative Leadership headed by Michael Conrad. He wore two hats until he graduated with an MBA in 2008, as one of the top three attendees.

Yukio now serves as ECD at Global Solutions Center which Dentsu established in April, 2011 in order to enhance its capability of creative solutions worldwide.

When he is not working, Yukio leads a happy, slow life in the suburbs of Tokyo, with his wife Sachiko who is the best radio commercial director in Japan, and his two cats.