MAM
Manesh Swamy steps in as co-founder and chief creative officer at First AI
MUMBAI: Manesh swamy has hit reset—and rewrite. After more than 20 years in India’s creative and digital advertising business, the award-winning creative leader has co-founded First AI consultancy pvt. ltd., stepping in as co-founder and chief creative officer.
Based in Navi Mumbai, Swamy’s new venture positions itself as a hybrid consultancy, product studio and creative partner, combining human craft with AI-led speed. At First AI, AI stands for artistic imagination, analytical implementation and audience interaction, driven by an always-on innovation mindset.
Before starting First AI in June 2025, Swamy served as managing director and chief creative officer at LS Digital Group from April 2024 to March 2025. Prior to that, he spent close to five years at LS Digital in senior leadership roles, including chief creative officer and senior vice president, senior vice president creative social media pr and marcom, and vice president creative, helping shape large-scale digital and creative mandates.
Earlier, Swamy was vice president creative at Logicserve Digital between 2019 and 2021, where he led creative strategy and brand storytelling. His longest tenure was at Hungama Digital Services, where he spent 15 years, joining as a senior visualiser and rising to associate creative director and later creative director. During this period, he played a key role in building the creative function and helped the company win more than 100 metals at national and international award shows.
Over the years, Swamy has spearheaded campaigns for leading brands including HDFC Life, Canon, Mankind Pharma, Tata Motors Finance, Tata Pravesh, Tata Indicash, Videocon D2H, Bajaj Allianz, Mrs Bectors Group, Ebro India, PepsiCo, Mahindra Auto, Nerolac Paints, Singapore Tourism, Milton, Intel, UB Group, ACC and Eros Now.
A regular on global and Indian juries, Swamy has judged YouTube Works Awards, Digixx, Goafest Abbys and AdFest Pattaya, and was named in Social Samosa’s 40 Under 40 list in 2019.
Brands
Maharashtra panel orders Lodha to refund Rs 5 crore to homebuyers
Consumer court flags unfair practices in long-running property dispute case
MUMBAI: In a sharp rebuke to one of India’s biggest real estate players, the Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Macrotech Developers to refund nearly Rs 5 crore to a senior citizen couple, Uttam and Anindita Chatterjee. The ruling, delivered on March 13, 2026, calls out the developer for “deficiency in service” and “unfair trade practices”, bringing closure to a dispute that has stretched over a decade.
The case traces back to 2015, when the couple booked a 3-BHK flat at World Towers in Lower Parel for Rs 12.22 crore, with possession promised within a year. What followed was a series of changes that complicated matters. After deciding to exit the project, they were persuaded to shift to a 4-BHK in another development priced at Rs 8 crore, with delivery scheduled for 2018. However, within months, the price was allegedly increased to Rs 10 crore. After demonetisation reshaped the market, similar flats were reportedly being offered at lower prices, but the couple were not given the benefit.
Despite paying over Rs 2.83 crore, the couple neither received possession nor clarity. Instead, in 2018, the developer unilaterally cancelled the booking, retained part of the amount as earnest money, and argued that the buyers were investors rather than consumers. The commission rejected this claim, observing that casual references to “investment” do not take away consumer rights when the purchase intent is residential.
The bench also held that the developer could not penalise buyers for payment delays while failing to meet its own delivery commitments. It noted the lack of formal documentation for revised terms and termed the prolonged retention of funds without delivering a home as exploitative.
As part of its order, the commission directed the developer to refund Rs 2.83 crore paid by the couple, along with interest at 10 per cent per annum, amounting to around Rs 2.12 crore. In addition, Rs 1 lakh has been awarded for mental agony and Rs 50,000 towards litigation costs, taking the total payout to over Rs 5 crore. The developer has been asked to comply within two months.
For now, the ruling serves as a reminder that in real estate, shifting terms and delayed promises can carry a significant cost.
