Piyush Pandey, Chairman Global Creative and Executive Chairman, Ogilvy India, is moving into a Chief Advisor role.
Hephzibah Pathak, Global Brand Director and Vice Chairperson, will take over as Executive Chairperson.
VR Rajesh, Group President, has been named CEO.
CSO Prem Narayan and CCOs Harshad Rajadhyaksha, Kainaz Karmakar and Sukesh Nayak have joined the Ogilvy Board.
SN Rane, Group Executive Co-Chairman India and COO, South Asia, will now be Business Advisor to Ogilvy APAC.
Pandey will continue to partner key clients. He will work with the executive team including on new business prospects, the creative product and participate in industry bodies and award forums, informed an Ogilvy statement.
Addressing the media on Pandey’s transition, Devika Seth Bulchandani, Global CEO, Ogilvy, said, “David Ogilvy said if you want to create a company of immortals, you hire giants. Among the 15,000 people that we have in 93 countries, there is one giant (Piyush Pandey) that is bigger, legendary, and known all over the world.”
He has in turn hired some legends who now take over day to day operations, she added, underlining that Pandey will continue to be associated with the agency.
“While I have been the face of the agency, it is the team that has done all the work in the last few year,” said Pandey, expressing confidence in the incoming leadership.
“They are ready to rock. It’s time for me to play a bit of coach, player and watcher. It’s time to bring on the players who are in form, stand behind them, and let them play,” he added.
Pandey has spent over four decades at the agency.
The transition will be effective from January 1, 2024.
