MAM
Xapads Media appoints Gagan Uppal as country head for Mena region
MUMBAI: Programmatic adtech platform Xapads Media has announced the appointment of Gagan Uppal as the country head for the Mena (Middle East and North Africa) region to give them a local leadership boost in the region. Xapads Media with the onboarding of Uppal, will now focus on its strategic growth strengthening the local team, partnerships, and innovation in the MENA region.
Associated with brands like Bath and Body Works, H&M, Aldar, Abu Dhabi Tourism, DTCM (Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing), Samsung, IQOptions, Starbucks and McDonalds in the Mena region, Xapads is now looking to increase its footprint further in the region. With the expansion of its offerings, Xapads’s UAE office will serve as the hub for the company’s business development in the Middle East market and will explore new opportunities in the fast-growing Mena region.
Prior to Xapads, Gagan was spearheading Advertising and Emerging Tech Partnerships at The TechVantage and was responsible for onboarding global AdTech/MarTech partners. In 14 years of work experience, Uppal has managed several popular campaigns for well-known clients including Nestle, Expo 2020, Neom, Dubai Holdings, Address Hotels and ENOC to name a few.
Xapads Media founder, CEO Nitin Gupta said, “With a focused approach to further expand our horizons, Xapads will strengthen its position in the Mena region with a new country head. We are delighted to have Gagan on board, with his leadership skills and work experience he would contribute to further strengthen our footprints in the MENA region”.
Xapads through its AdTech platform Xerxes- empowered with AI/ML, aims to generate performance programmatically with data layering and brand safety. Currently, with a market reach of over 850 million users globally, it aims to help and bring high-end results for their partners.
Xapads Media COO Ramneek Chadha said, “Gagan is a seasoned veteran in the industry with a vast experience and insights of the ad-tech field and I am sure that he will successfully implement his growth strategies in the market and help Xapads Media be one of the top Adtech Platform in the region.”
Uppal said, “It is a great opportunity for me to join Xapads Media at such a pivotal time and lead its Mena office which is rapidly growing and creating a niche in the region. As the company is already catering to well-known brands and agencies with its advanced ad tech services, I’m confident in bringing a positive revolution to the business and the company’s growth.”
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.
