Ram Sehgal, one of Indian advertising’s most respected leaders and a prolific writer, has passed away. Over four decades, he shaped creative standards at JWT and Contract Advertising, strengthened industry institutions, and inspired generations through his mentorship and books. His legacy of integrity, imagination and leadership leaves an enduring imprint on the profession.
The Indian advertising fraternity is mourning the loss of Ram Sehgal, one of its most influential leaders and a cornerstone of the industry’s modern identity. His passing marks the end of an era defined by discipline, imagination, mentorship and a rare commitment to strengthening every institution he touched. For over four decades, Sehgal shaped the contours of Indian advertising, not through loud declarations or fleeting campaigns, but through a steady, principled contribution that helped define the profession’s ethos and elevate its creative ambition.
Sehgal’s journey began at S.H. Benson, an agency that would later become part of Ogilvy, where he first absorbed the fundamentals of craft, rigour and strategic thinking. But it was at JWT—then one of the most influential agencies in India and globally—that he spent 15 formative years shaping a philosophy that blended creative precision with disciplined execution. Those who worked with him often spoke of his rare ability to challenge without diminishing, to demand excellence without instilling fear, and to nurture talent with a mix of generosity and exacting standards.
That blend of vision and leadership made him the natural choice to take over as president of Contract Advertising, a JWT subsidiary, at a time when the agency was on the brink of reinvention. For the next 16 years, Sehgal guided Contract through a period of immense creative transformation. Under his stewardship, the agency rose to become one of India’s most admired creative organisations, known for ideas shaped by authenticity, restraint and emotional intelligence. His leadership style—steady, thoughtful, and deeply respectful of craft—set the tone for an organisation that valued both creativity and integrity in equal measure.
It was not just agencies that benefited from his presence. Sehgal was a builder of institutions and a guardian of industry ethics. His presidency at the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) came at a time when the industry was undergoing tectonic shifts—from liberalisation to global alignments—and he ensured the association remained not just relevant but future-focused. Later, as chairman of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), he brought clarity, fairness and stability to the self-regulatory body. His tenure strengthened public trust in the industry and reinforced the idea that responsible advertising was not an optional virtue but an essential obligation.
Recognition followed him not because he sought it, but because his contributions were impossible to ignore. He was honoured as A&M’s Advertising Man of the Year, inducted into the Kolkata Advertising Club’s Hall of Fame in 2001, and in 2018 received the AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award—the profession’s highest honour. Each accolade represented a chapter in a life dedicated not just to creating ads, but to shaping the values and aspirations of the industry itself.
Beyond his leadership, Ram Sehgal was a deeply gifted writer with an appetite for understanding the world and the people who inhabit it. His books—Mixed Feelings, Secrets of Advertising, Around the World in 40 Years and What’s Cooking?—offered readers more than professional insights. They revealed his curiosity, humour, humility and a desire to document both the industry’s evolution and his own journey within it. His columns for newspapers and magazines carried the same warmth and attentiveness that his colleagues experienced first-hand. Through writing, he extended his mentorship to a wider audience, leaving lessons that remain valuable for young professionals navigating today’s rapidly changing creative industries.
In his later years, Sehgal’s life took on a quieter, more contemplative rhythm. He made his home in Pondicherry, where he formed a deep and enduring connection with the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Friends often spoke of how the move reflected a natural progression for a man who, despite a career steeped in the pressures of deadlines and campaigns, always possessed an inner stillness and clarity. Even at a distance from the industry’s daily hustle, he remained accessible to former colleagues, young creatives and admirers, guiding them with anecdotes, humour and gentle wisdom.
What set Ram Sehgal apart was not just his brilliance but his humanity. He believed in people—especially young talent—and invested time and attention long before it became fashionable for leaders to talk about mentorship. Many in the advertising world trace their own careers back to conversations with him, arguments with him, encouragement from him, or simply the example he set. His influence extended beyond awards and campaigns; it lived in the confidence he instilled in others and the standards he set for what it meant to lead.
The advertising industry often celebrates speed, disruption and reinvention. But Sehgal’s legacy is a reminder that true impact is built over years, through consistency, empathy and a commitment to elevating others. He represented an era when advertising was not only about brands but about understanding people, culture and the subtlety of human emotion. At a time when the profession grapples with technological shifts, shrinking attention spans and the search for authenticity, his body of work stands as a benchmark—proof that clarity, craftsmanship and integrity remain timeless.
As the industry reflects on his passing, what becomes evident is that Ram Sehgal was much more than an ad man. He was a thinker, a teacher, a storyteller and, above all, a builder—of talent, of institutions, and of standards that continue to guide Indian advertising today. The void left by his absence is profound, but so is the legacy he leaves behind.
In celebrating his life, colleagues and friends are reminded that the greatest tribute is not in mourning but in honouring his values: discipline paired with imagination, ambition tempered by humility, and leadership rooted in generosity and trust. Ram Sehgal’s contribution to Indian advertising was monumental, but his contribution to the people within it was immeasurable.
The industry has lost one of its most respected giants, but the path he paved—steady, thoughtful and guided by integrity—continues to illuminate the way forward.
