Ogilvy India has declared a leadership transition scheduled to commence on January 1, 2024. This transition will witness several seasoned veterans of Ogilvy India embarking on the next phase of their extensive journey with the agency.
In his role as Chief Advisor, Piyush Pandey, presently serving as Chairman Global Creative and Executive Chairman of Ogilvy India, will collaborate closely with the leadership team. His objective is to ensure that the influence and depth of the Ogilvy legacy permeate all facets and echelons of Ogilvy in India. Piyush Pandey is dedicated to safeguarding Ogilvy’s creative heritage, fostering its continued impact, especially in the realms of creative output and digital transformation.
In this role Piyush will continue to work closely with major clients and the agency’s executive team to ensure that Ogilvy India maintains its important leadership role in India. Along with the leadership team, Piyush will be involved with key Ogilvy clients and new business prospects and the creative product of the agency. He will also continue to participate in various industry bodies and award forums.
SN Rane, Group Executive Co-Chairman India and COO South Asia, will work as Business Advisor to Ogilvy Asia Pacific. In his new role, Rane will work closely with Ogilvy Asia-Pacific to ensure that Ogilvy India has a smooth transition under the new management and to advise on various business operations and planning issues.
Hephzibah Pathak is set to assume the position of Executive Chairperson at Ogilvy India, marking a historic milestone as the first woman to hold this role in the organization. Recognized as a trusted partner for numerous key clients, Hephzibah has been instrumental in crafting iconic, category-defining transformative work for various brands.
Beyond her professional contributions, she has served as an inspiring mentor to current leaders and emerging talent within Ogilvy India. In her new capacity, Hephzibah will spearhead and guide the strategic direction, growth, and transformation initiatives of the company.
VR Rajesh will move from his current role as Group President of Ogilvy India to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the agency. VR Rajesh has led the charge in building and growing Ogilvy’s capabilities in modern marketing. In his role, he will partner Hephzibah in further accelerating the transformation agenda of the company. He will also be responsible for running the operations of the agency across offices in India and all its business units.
He will also work closely with Hufrish Birdy, who will continue in her current role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO), on various financial, commercial, and compliance issues for Ogilvy India. Hufrish has partnered the leadership team over years to deliver healthy financial performance.
Further, Ogilvy India’s leadership transition will also involve important new appointments to the Ogilvy Board. Joining the Ogilvy India Board will be the agency’s three Chief Creative Officers (CCO’s) – Harshad Rajadhyaksha, Kainaz Karmakar, and Sukesh Nayak. The creative trio of Sukesh, Kainaz, and Harshad are amongst the most awarded and celebrated in the country and have led the charge in creating industry defining modern work on many of Ogilvy’s valued clients.
The agency’s Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) Prem Narayan also joins the board. Prem has been a strategic partner to many of Ogilvy’s key clients and creative partners. He has championed the effectiveness culture at Ogilvy, making Ogilvy India one of the most effective agencies in the world.
All four of them will continue in their current, vital roles in the agency, leading the creative and strategic work of the agency.
These four executives will be joining Hephzibah, VR Rajesh, and Hufrish, who are already on the Board. All these executives, working closely as a combined leadership team, will provide important continuity, experience, and commitment to the next phase of growth and Ogilvy India excellence for its clients.
Devika Seth Bulchandani, Global Chief Executive Officer, Ogilvy adds, “Piyush has done what true legends do. Nurtured and groomed a class of leaders who can assume the day to day running of the Ogilvy machine, which will give him time to focus simply on the magic he has been so legendary in.”
