Grey Worldwide COO Ashutosh Khanna to leave advertising

In a significant development, Grey Worldwide’s swashbuckling chief operating officer, Ashutosh Khanna, has put in his papers at the agency. Sources have informed agencyfaqs! that the development was announced within the agency last week. Khanna was elevated as COO at the agency in December 2003 when he was operating as the agency’s Delhi branch head.

In all probability, Khanna is stepping away from the advertising industry. His next destination is Korn/Ferry International, a global consultancy and recruitment company. While his new role could not be ascertained, he is expected to join Korn/Ferry as a partner.

This graduate from Mumbai’s KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research started his career in 1988 as a buyer. During the start-up years, he worked with Ogilvy & Mather for a while and then moved to Everest, where he spent four years before joining Grey Worldwide in 1998.

For the uninitiated, Korn/Ferry provides services ranging from corporate governance and CEO recruitment to executive search, middle-management recruitment and leadership development solutions (LDS). LDS includes strategic management assessment, executive coaching and development, and supporting IT platforms. The company has about 70 offices across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, West Asia and South Africa. It has branches in India as well, with corporate offices in Mumbai and Gurgaon.

Recent brands that Grey Worldwide has worked on recently include Suzlon, Incredible India, Phoenix Lamps, Suzuki Motorcycles and Wrigley India’s Orbit.