Piyush Pandey, widely recognized as the Father of Indian advertising, passed away on Friday, October 24, 2025, in Mumbai after a period of illness. Under his visionary leadership, Ogilvy rose to become India’s premier advertising agency, renowned for its groundbreaking creativity. His influence extended globally, as he proudly served as the first-ever jury President from Asia for the prestigious Cannes Lions Festival.
Throughout his remarkable 40-year career, Mr. Pandey amassed over 1,000 awards, a testament to his unparalleled talent and dedication. As the former Chief Creative Officer, Worldwide, and Executive Chairman of Ogilvy India, he was instrumental in transforming the landscape of Indian advertising. He famously challenged and ultimately broke the pervasive dominance of Western influences by championing and popularizing Hindi in advertising films and memorable taglines, deeply resonating with the Indian masses.