Piyush Pandey named ambassador for D&AD White Pencil

The D&AD White Pencil award will be given to an idea that raises awareness, or changes behaviour around a social, environmental or health issue.

The D&AD has named Piyush Pandey, executive chairperson and creative director, Ogilvy South Asia as the ambassador of the D&AD White Pencil. Pandey, along with the other ambassadors, will take the message of the White Pencil initiative, its opportunities and challenges forward.

The D&AD White Pencil award has been introduced to celebrate and commemorate D&AD's 50th anniversary in 2011. The award will be given to an idea that raises awareness, or changes behaviour around a pressing social, environmental or health issue as defined by the White Pencil Brief.

Speaking on the development, Pandey says, "It is a fantastic and noble initiative. I am excited to be a part of this and ignite the passion in various countries. This is not about advertising but everything you do -- where the idea is what matters."

"What is great is that it is democratic in participation. It is open to everybody -- creative professionals and the corporates," he adds.

The partner cause chosen by D&AD for the inaugural award is Peace One Day, the global charity working to establish Peace Day (September 21).

For the record, in 2001, the 192 member states of the United Nations unanimously adopted September 21 as an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence, on the UN International Day of Peace.

The other White Pencil ambassadors, besides Pandey, include Remi Babinet of BETC Paris, Tim Delaney of Leagas Delaney London, Jeremy Perrott of McCann Erickson Australia, Linus Karlsson of McCann London and New York, John Hegarty of BBH London, Richard Seymour of Seymour Powell, Kagami-San of Dentsu Japan, and Dylan Williams of Mother London, among others.

In another development, Pandey has been named as the next Berlin School 'Godfather'. Starting this September and running through August 2012, he will attend select programme modules and serve as an honorary industry mentor to senior creative executives as they complete Berlin School's five-module global executive MBA in Creative Leadership programme.

Pandey joins previous 'Godfathers' such as Berlin School president and ex-Leo Burnett Worldwide chief creative officer, Michael Conrad, John Gough of Distraction Formats, Keith Reinhard of DDB Worldwide, Seymour Stein of Sire Records, and most recently, BBH's John Hegarty.

"It is not enough to source talent to be successful in today's creative industries; one has to nurture, encourage and develop creative talent on an on-going basis. By emphasising the importance of effectively combining creative thinking with leadership acumen, the Berlin School's EMBA programme offers tremendous value to creative companies as well as their clients," says Pandey.

He adds, "My experience working in the fast-paced colourful Indian marketplace has taught me many things. I am excited about bringing my experience into the classroom to help participants gain different perspectives and tools for tackling the challenges they face in their own marketplaces."

Pandey's earlier associations with the Berlin School includes one as a commencement speaker at the 2009 EMBA programme ceremony, and speaking at the closing of the inaugural Cannes Creative Leaders Programme, in 2010.