Ogilvy elevates Piyush Pandey as Global CCO

Pandey replaces Tham Khai Meng and will be based in Mumbai.

Piyush Pandey, current chairman of Ogilvy India, has been appointed as the agency's next chief creative officer (CCO) Worldwide, replacing Tham Khai Meng.

Pandey will retain his current responsibilities, and will be based in Mumbai. From January 1, 2019 he will work in partnership with Ogilvy's global chief executive John Seifert to oversee creative standards at the company.

Ogilvy also announced that it will expand its Worldwide Creative Council from 12 members to 20; the 20 members - of which half will be comprised of female creative leaders - will be announced in January of 2019.

Speaking on the occasion, Seifert says in a company statement, "We could not be more thrilled that Piyush (Pandey) will be serving as our chief creative officer, worldwide and my creative partner. He 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. Piyush 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."

Pandey, a recipient of Padma Shri (2016), joined Ogilvy & Mather in 1982. In 1994 he was made national creative director for Ogilvy & Mather India. His appointment as the new worldwide CCO and the corresponding Worldwide Creative Council expansion is the next step in the execution of Ogilvy's Next Chapter transformation. At last year's Cannes Lions, Ogilvy announced its commitment (in partnership with the three per cent movement) to recruit 20 senior women in creative globally by 2020.

In corresponding creative talent news, Joe Sciarrotta becomes deputy CCO, Worldwide, reporting to Pandey and Seifert. Sciarrotta will continue to lead creative work assignments for several of the agency's top 50 clients while taking on new duties at the worldwide creative level.

Leslie Sims also joins Ogilvy as CCO of Ogilvy USA, reporting to Lou Aversano, chief executive, USA.