Ogilvy has named Piyush Pandey, the executive chairman and creative director at Ogilvy South Asia, as its Global Chief Creative Officer. The position that was lying vacant since July after Tham Khai Meng was dismissed following an internal investigation.
Mr Pandey will continue to be based in India, and take on the additional mandate effective January 2019.
“We could not be more thrilled that Piyush will be serving as our chief creative officer, worldwide and my creative partner. Piyush is a true industry icon who is uniquely suited to lead our global creative efforts. Creativity has and will always be at the heart of the Ogilvy brand and culture. He is the perfect leader to shepherd that legacy as we continue to focus on making brands matter as the leading creative network in the world,” commented John Seifert, CEO, Ogilvy Worldwide.
Mr Pandey’s appointment and the corresponding Worldwide Creative Council expansion is the next step in the execution of Ogilvy’s Next Chapter transformation.
An advisory from the agency noted: “The agency remains focused on accelerating the diversity within its creative ranks, through both external recruitment and more dedicated internal talent development and network mobility. At last year’s Cannes Lions, Ogilvy announced its commitment [in partnership with the 3% Movement] to recruit 20 senior women in creative globally by 2020, and it is proud to have taken a big step towards that goal.”
In corresponding creative talent news, Joe Sciarrotta becomes Deputy Chief Creative Officer, Worldwide, reporting to Piyush Pandey and John Seifert. Mr Sciarrotta will continue to lead creative work assignments for several of our top 50 clients while taking on new duties at the worldwide creative level.
Pandey, the recipient of the Lion of St. Mark this year, joined Ogilvy & Mather in 1982, and made his name for his work for Fevicol, Luna Moped, Cadbury and Asian Paints. In 1994 he was made National Creative Director for Ogilvy & Mather India. Piyush was the first Jury President from Asia at the 2004 Cannes Lions Festival. The Government of India awarded him with the Padma Shri in 2016.
