Ashutosh Khanna

Ashutosh (Ash) Khanna is a partner in Heidrick & Struggles’ New Delhi office and a member of the Consumer Markets and CEO & Board practices in South Asia. With more than 20 years of executive search experience, Ash works closely with C-suite clients to develop talent solutions that address increasingly complex business challenges.

Ash began his career in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and marketing services and has since focused on the consumer sector. He advises boards, CEOs, and functional leaders on executive search and leadership advisory across consumer goods, retail, marketing services, travel and hospitality, and digital-native companies. He also enjoys helping startups and regional businesses strengthen their employer brands.

Before joining Heidrick & Struggles, Ash spent 15 years with another global executive search firm. Earlier, he was chief operating officer, India, at Grey Worldwide and had P&L leadership roles at Bayer, Lowe Lintas, and WPP.

Ash is an independent director on the board of Balaji Telefilms, India's largest television, OTT, and film content production company, where he chairs the audit committee and the nomination and remuneration committee.

Bombay University, Master’s Degree in Management Studies

Delhi University, Bachelor of Science Degree

Ash was named one of the Top 20 Most Influential Advertising Professionals by Economic Times in 2006.

Ash is an advocate for climate action. He and his family were early supporters of efforts to preserve the Aravalli Forest Range in northern India and have supported the cause for more than a decade. He also volunteers at a local Missionaries of Charity orphanage and he led an initiative to support migrant relief efforts and provide medical equipment to under-resourced municipal hospitals and physicians.