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His last rites are to be held on Saturday.
Industry leaders have expressed grief over the demise of a great advertising creator whose vision and creativity transformed the Indian marketing industry.
Uday Kotak, founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank, recalled Pandey’s significant involvement in creating the bank’s 2003 launch campaign, which portrayed banking as “common sense”.
“Sadly, Piyush Pandey has left us. He launched Kotak Mahindra Bank in 2003 with a campaign that described banking as “common sense”. Amazing thinker and humble person. He weaved creativity with the Indian context. Will miss him,” he wrote on X.
Sadly, Piyush Pandey has left us. He launched Kotak Mahindra Bank in 2003 with a campaign that described banking as “common sense”. Amazing out-of-the-box thinker and humble person. He put creativity in the Indian context. Will miss him. pic.twitter.com/98o4KiUiT0
– Uday Kotak (@udaykotak) 24 October 2025
In February 2003, Kotak Mahindra Finance Limited (KMFL) received a license from the Reserve Bank of India to operate as a commercial bank. At the time of its launch, Pandey was at the forefront of its marketing.
According to a report by Social Samosa, its advertising campaigns focused more on popularizing its services and product benefits following a direct-selling approach.
In his tribute, Anish Shah, Group CEO and Managing Director, Mahindra Group, remembered Pandey not only for his creative work but also for his warm personality. In a post on Are.”
Deeply saddened by the demise of #piyushpandeyA creative legend whose storytelling transformed Indian advertising.
His visionary leadership on some extraordinary missions @MahindraRise His talent and sympathy are reflected in equal measure.
We will always remember him… pic.twitter.com/Jj9gPdWihs– Anish Shah (@anissha21) 24 October 2025
Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw expressed grief over the demise of Piyush Pandey, saying that he was a “pioneer of advertising” and his demise has left an irreplaceable void.
He said, “This is very sad. Piyush Pandey was the pioneer of advertising and he has left a huge void which can never be filled. He will be greatly missed. Om Shanti.”
This is very sad. Piyush Pandey was the pioneer of advertising and he has left a huge void which can never be filled. Will miss him a lot. Om Shanti???? https://t.co/GGQmq1jHqp
– Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (@kiranshaw) 24 October 2025
Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, paying tribute, said Pandey had always attracted him with his “hearty laugh” and “indomitable zest for life”. In a post on
Also read: Ogilvy has appointed Piyush Pandey as its new global chief creative officer.
“In the midst of winter, I discovered that within me, there was an invincible summer.” -Camus. Piyush always carried that warmth within himself. Goodbye, my friend. You enrich all of our lives,” he said.
Yes, he was a man who left huge footprints on the advertising industry…
But what I will remember most is not the campaigns he created or the brands he built, but his hearty laugh and his indomitable zest for life.
He reminded us that even in the serious business of persuasion,… pic.twitter.com/6C1SJHwFH6— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) 24 October 2025
Paying an emotional tribute to the advertising giant, industrialist Gautam Adani said Pandey gave Indian advertising its confidence, its soul and its “Swadeshi” swag.
On
Piyush Pandey was more than just an advertising giant. He was the voice that made India believe in its own story. He gave Indian advertising its confidence, its soul, its “Swadeshi” swag. And he was a very good friend! He played every stroke like a master batsman… pic.twitter.com/HhyaEBzZdL
— Gautam Adani (@gautam_adani) 24 October 2025
Paying tribute to Piyush Pandey, Asian Paints MD and CEO Amit Singal said, “The news of Piyush Pandey’s demise has left a void that is impossible to fill, not only in India’s creative landscape but also within the Asian Paints family.”
Pandey’s 2007 “Har Ghar Kuch Kehta Hai” campaign for Asian Paints was emotionally charged. It wasn’t just about the paint; It was about the story that each house tells.
His most iconic commercials included those for Cadbury Dairy Milk – “Kuch Khaas Hai” and “Pappu Pass Ho Gaya”. Apart from these two, Pandey was also associated with Fevicol. For the adhesive brand, he created an advertisement storytelling text “Sharma Ki Dulhaniya Byah Ke Aayi”.