Advertising legend and Padma Shri recipient Piyush Pandey passed away on Friday at the age of 70. He was the Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer Worldwide of Ogilvy. According to the ad agency, he was “battling an infection that took a serious turn.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences, remembering Pandey for his “creativity” and his lasting impact on Indian advertising.
“Shri Piyush Pandey Ji was admired for his creativity. He made a monumental contribution to the world of advertising and communications. I will fondly cherish our interactions over the years. Saddened by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and admirers. Om Shanti”, the Prime Minister wrote on X.
Born in Jaipur, Pandey began his career in advertising by voicing radio jingles for everyday products with his brother Prasoon Pandey. Before joining Ogilvy in 1982, he tried his hand at cricket, tea tasting, and construction work. At Ogilvy, he established himself as a leading creative force, shaping the way India communicated through advertising.
In 2004, Pandey became the first Asian to serve as jury president at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. He was later recognised with the CLIO Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 and the Padma Shri in 2016, becoming the first Indian advertising professional to receive the national honour.
In 2018, he and his brother Prasoon became the first Asians to receive the Lion of St. Mark, Cannes Lions’ lifetime achievement award, for promoting Indian creativity globally.
Pandey’s career was marked by a series of iconic campaigns that became cultural phenomena. He helped craft one of India’s most memorable political slogans, “Ab ki baar, Modi sarkar.”
His ad portfolio includes some of the most memorable advertisements in Indian history, such as ‘Kuch Khaas Hai Zindagi Mein’ for Cadbury Dairy Milk featuring the dancing girl, Asian Paints’ ‘Har Ghar Kuch Kehta Hai’, and the popular ‘ZooZoo’ characters for Vodafone.
Pandey also spearheaded public service campaigns like the ‘Do Boond Zindagi Ke’ Polio Abhiyaan with Amitabh Bachchan.