NEW DELHI – A singular honor has just been awarded to someone from India’s advertising and communications industry for the first time. On the occasion of India’s Republic Day on January 26, Ogilvy & Mather Executive Chairman and Creative Director Piyush Pandey was named a recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri award.
The Padma Shri (also spelled Padma Shree) is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India. The honor is awarded to citizens of India in recognition of their distinguished contribution in various spheres of activity including science, medicine, arts, education, sports, public affairs, industrialists, cinema stars, conservation, and even farming. First handed out in 1954, the award is presented by the Indian government with past winners including Mother Teresa of Calcutta, director Satjayit Ray, and actor Irrfan Khan.
Piyush Pandey has been with Ogilvy & Mather since 1982. He cites the 2000 Cadbury Dairy Milk campaign as a career highlight since it was named “Campaign of the Century” by the Abbys. That same year, the Ogilvy commercial for Fevikwik was named “Commercial of the Century” also by the Abbys.
As one of the leading marketing communications companies in the world, Ogilvy & Mather is extremely honored, delighted, and privileged that one of their own has been cited with this award. For Piyush Pandey to be the first person in the filed of advertising and communications to receive the Padma Shri only makes the distinction even more prestigious for the Ogilvy & Mather network around the world.
