Author: Delshad Irani

The Big Break that changed Indian advertising: Piyush Pandey & Ogilvy

As it goes in the nineties' Cadbury ad, kuch khaas hai hum sabhi mein, there is something extra special about Piyush Pandey. His work has proved to be an inspiration across generations. His ideas and words have cut across India and the world. (Imaging: Triparna Mitra)

Piyush Pandey is regarded as the creative soul of Indian advertising and Ogilvy. A man who didn’t just write ads but rewrote the language in which India spoke to itself.

Apple dodges tariff fallout for now, as Donald Trump grants temporary reprieve

Apple took the #1 spot in Q1 2025, despite the challenges faced in its biggest markets.

America’s proposed tariffs had raised alarms within Apple Inc’s operations, finance and marketing divisions, particularly as production timelines for the next iPhone, expected to be largely made in China, tightened.

WATCH: Kunal Shah on AI, creativity, and the future of human adaptation

At Storyboard18's Global Pioneers Summit, Kunal Shah, Founder and CEO of CRED observed, "The biggest disruption will be how humans adapt. High-commitment actions—like having kids—might decline. People may choose perpetual excitement over long-term responsibility."

“Every home has a CTO aged 10 to 18. They’re also becoming the procurement officers. Businesses will cater to them,” Kunal Shah said.

WATCH: Filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari, Adarsh Atal, Shriram Iyer on working with ‘secure’ actors for Dream11 ads

Many consider the Dream11 ad a playful, nostalgia-infused battle of team-building. Beyond its script and entertainment value, the campaign is also drawing attention for its massive production scale.

“The actors were completely invested,” Tiwari said in a discussion at Storyboard18 Global Pioneers Summit. “They were secure enough to laugh at themselves, and that brought a lot of authenticity to the performance.”

Nespresso sees ‘massive potential’ as it enters India’s emerging premium coffee market

Nespresso's global chief Navratil likened the evolution to that of wine culture, with consumers increasingly seeking to become connoisseurs. Social media and the proliferation of specialty coffee shops have helped accelerate this transformation. “You want a good machine at home - it’s a reflection of who you are and what you value,” he noted.

“For the first time, we are seeing coffee consumed not just for stimulation but for pleasure,” said Philipp Navratil, global CEO of Nespresso. That shift is driving demand for premiumisation – a trend marked by a deeper consumer interest in origin, production methods, and sustainability.

WPP’s Mark Read stresses on ‘more efficient operations and strict capital allocation’ amid market pressures

The world’s largest holding company’s CEO is betting big on tech and creativity amid market pressures. In his annual statement, Mark Read said the company plans to increase annual investment in WPP Open from £250 million in 2024 to £300 million in 2025.