Industry calls out an article sidelining Piyush Pandey's global achievement

While the ad world celebrated Piyush Pandey's elevation as the Global CCO of Ogilvy Group, a global publication's article did not consider it as 'so important' and has been accused of racism by the ad industry back home.

This man needs no introduction! The mastermind behind numerous evergreen campaigns, a great leader, he is a man of many words. Piyush Pandey dons various hats and has won accolades for his immense contribution to the ad world. The Padma Shri recipient has always left us astonished by his out of the box thinking - be it the quirky Fevicol campaigns or the positivity filled Cadbury Dairy Milk videos or the most applauded Brand Modi fever.

Yesterday, Pandey was named as the new worldwide Chief Creative Officer of the Ogilvy Group, effective January 1, 2019.  India couldn't have been prouder until an article chose to give more significance to the appointment of Leslie Sims as the Ogilvy US CCO over Pandey’s elevation to head the Ogilvy creative team globally. The publication even did not find it apt to fit the ad veteran on the featured image of the screen which proudly features Sims and U.S. CEO Lou Aversano.

This did not go down well with the Indian counterparts who believe that the article reeks of racism and chauvinism, also putting under the spotlight similar practices prominent in the global advertising network.

I can’t believe this rubbish. Look at the prioritisation and the hierarchy in this article. I hate to say this, but it smacks of racism. “Ogilvy Names Leslie Sims and Piyush Pandey as U.S. and Global Chief Creative Officers”– Adweek https://t.co/CpjPVDnBDk

— Anant Rangaswami (@AnantRangaswami) December 5, 2018

Also Read: Piyush Pandey named Ogilvy’s Chief Creative Officer, Worldwide

Absolutely agree. Does not make sense.

— sanjeev kotnala (@S_kotnala) December 6, 2018

Boasting of more than three decades of experience in advertising, Pandey was awarded Lion of St Mark, the Cannes Lions’ Lifetime Achievement Award, along with brother and filmmaker Prasoon Pandey. The only Indian to be appointed as the Global CCO of an agency, he is currently the executive chairman and creative director for Ogilvy South Asia.