Piyush led from the front and transformed Indian advertising: Prathap Suthan
Adman Prathap Suthan recollects the friendship he had with the iconic Piyush Pandey
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Published: Oct 24, 2025 11:02 AM | 2 min read
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There will be an outpouring of grief today, and rightfully so.
Few people have understood the Indian pulse as deeply as Piyush Pandey. I had a quiet and personal relationship with him.
It began at the Mahalakshmi Race Course, on the night Grey finished second at the Abbys, when he walked up and applauded us. That simple act said everything about the man. From then on, our bond was different.
We met often at award shows, especially at Cannes, smoked together, and spoke about advertising and life. Recently, I invited him to the inauguration of the Trivandrum Ad Club. He could not come but sent a beautiful video message that was played at the event.
Piyush led from the front and transformed Indian advertising. He put our creativity on the world map, became Global Creative Director for Ogilvy, and chaired juries across continents. His moustache became the mascot of an industry we could all be proud of.
When I lost my wife Jo on the night of 29 January 2024, his email reached me early the next morning. It felt like an arm around my shoulder. Thank you, Piyush, for everything you stood for, for making us walk taller, for making us believe in ourselves, for being so approachable, and for your friendship.
There will never be another like you. This is the greatest loss our business has known. I will miss you, as will the entire Indian advertising industry. Rest well, dear Piyush. You have earned every bit of it.
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