Mike Khanna, former HTA head, no more

Mike Khanna (Mohinder Kumar Khanna), former head of ad agency HTA (now known as JWT) passed away on Saturday. A doyen of the advertising industry, he steered HTA for 20 years, after taking over the reins from the legendary Subhas Ghoshal in 1984. Khanna spent over 38 years with the agency before assuming the role of Chairman Emeritus in January 2004, a statement from JWT said. Tarun Rai, CEO, J. Walter Thompson South Asia, said, “He was a legend in Indian advertising and a great leader and motivator. His legacy is extraordinary.” The statement said Khanna had built HTA into not just the single largest agency in India but also one that was known to build some of the country’s major brands. He played an active role in industry affairs, such as the Advertising Agencies Association of India and the Advertising Standards Council of India.