MAM
RIP Mike Khanna: Ad man bids adieu forever
MUMBAI: Indian ad fraternity’s father figure Mahinder K. Khanna familiar as Mike Khanna, who captained the titanic transition of Hindustan Thomson Associates (HTA) into J Walter Thomson (JWT) breathed his last on 7 June, 2015 at the age 76. Khanna had been unwell for some time.
The entire business fraternity will speak highly about the numbers that he managed to secured as a leader of HTA first in Delhi and then in Mumbai but his achievements are way beyond those numbers.
Defining Khanna’s persona, HTA former national creative director Ivan Arthur writes, “And those who do not know him will have visions of a man like some others with similar achievements, men who draw attention to their success with big flourishes of the corporate wand and the abracadabra of individual style. With Mike there were no flourishes; no conjurer’s patter, no abracadabra showmanship. He almost seemed like a novice with a pack of cards, slowly dealing them out, stopping to spit-wet his fingers when suddenly you would notice: he has dealt you an ace. And then another and another. You looked in awe. And there he was, unimpressed with his own magic, intent on just dealing you those aces.”
Arthur further adds in his blog, “A creative director will tell you how, on the occasion of the global CEO’s visit, her presentation was delayed by an hour, and how Mike went up to her, put his hand on her shoulder and said, Relax. This is not the end of the world. I could have kissed him then, she said. But I went about getting the job done. An office manager narrates how on his wife’s birthday, he had invited Mike home for dinner, at which he demonstrated the five-finger-and-palm bhangra clap.”
In 2005 Khanna decided to hang up his professional boots and was replaced by Colvyn Harris as JWT India’s CEO. In January 2015, following Harris’ appointment as executive director for global growth and client development Tarun Rai was handed over the post of CEO of J. Walter Thompson South Asia.
Under Khanna’s leadership, HTA represented some of India’s biggest brands like Hero, Pepsi, several Unilever brands, and Air India.
“The freedom to try and fail. A strong sense of self-worth, fairness, integrity, leadership, challenge, A sense of fun. Aces that they hold close to their chest. Aces that have led them to where they are today. Many are now happily retired and a good number are CEOs, chairmen of companies and leaders in their fields. They are all of them echoing one line, I am what I am today because of Mike,” concludes Arthur.
We at Indiantelevision.com deeply mourn the passing away of this maverick ad man. RIP Mike Khanna (1939 – 2015).
Brands
Rapido unveils new logo as it shifts to multi-modal mobility
From bike taxis to buses, cabs and travel bookings
MUMBAI: Rapido is changing gears. The homegrown mobility platform has unveiled a new brand identity as it moves beyond its origins as a bike taxi operator to position itself as a full-stack, multi-modal mobility service.
At the heart of the refresh is a redesigned logo. The earlier bike-centric symbol has been replaced with a simplified wordmark, signalling that Rapido is no longer defined by two wheels alone. The clean new look mirrors a broader ambition: to become an everyday mobility companion for millions of Indians.
The shift reflects how far the company has travelled. Rapido now facilitates over five million rides daily across more than 400 cities. What began as a bike taxi service has expanded into auto-rickshaws and cab services, along with parcel deliveries and integrated travel bookings.
Through its in-app OTA feature, users can now book flights, hotels, buses and trains without leaving the platform. The removal of the bike icon from the logo underscores this evolution from a single-category service to a comprehensive mobility ecosystem.
Rapido works with over 30 lakh registered captains across service categories. Powered by a technology-led, SaaS-driven framework, the platform aims to offer flexible earning opportunities while strengthening its footprint in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, where it has seen significant expansion and income generation.
The new identity will be rolled out across the app, captain network, marketing channels, digital platforms and on-ground assets in the coming weeks.
Rapido chief marketing officer Pawandip Singh, said the updated visual language reinforces the company’s promise to be the “Wheels of Bharat”. He added that the brand is moving beyond its origins to deliver an integrated, homegrown solution that connects every Indian from the first mile to the last, and every getaway in between.
As Rapido trades its bike-first badge for a broader mobility mantle, the new logo marks more than a visual tweak. It signals a brand that now wants to move India in every possible way, not just on two wheels.
