The Indian advertising world mourns the loss of Piyush Pandey, the legendary creative force who gave Indian brands their authentic voice. The Chief Creative Officer Worldwide and Executive Chairman India at Ogilvy passed away on October 23 at 70, reportedly due to an infection.
A Padma Shri and LIA Legend Award recipient, Pandey is celebrated for steering Indian advertising away from Western influence toward the language, humour, and spirit of everyday India. His four-decade journey at Ogilvy—beginning in 1982—transformed the agency into a creative powerhouse, with 12 consecutive years as India’s top agency.
Pandey’s iconic campaigns, including Fevicol’s “Todo Nahin, Jodo,” Cadbury Dairy Milk’s “Kuch Khaas Hai,” the Polio “Do Boond Zindagi Ke” drive, Vodafone’s ZooZoos, and Asian Paints’ “Har Ghar Kuch Kehta Hai,” are etched into the nation’s cultural memory. He also crafted the 2014 BJP campaign slogan “Achche Din Aane Wale Hain” and penned the patriotic anthem “Mile Sur Mera Tumhara.”
Honoured with multiple lifetime achievement awards from Cannes, Clio, and London International Awards, Pandey remained rooted in simplicity despite global acclaim. His passing marks the end of an era, but his words, wit, and work will continue to define Indian creativity for generations.