Brands
LVMH names François Kohler president for South and Southeast Asia
Appointment follows exit of Chris Chong after regional expansion drive
PARIS: Louis Vuitton parent company LVMH has appointed François Kohler as president, South and Southeast Asia, effective 23 February, 2026, as the luxury group steps up its ambitions in one of its fastest-growing regions.
Kohler will report to Stéphane Bianchi and will be tasked with accelerating growth across a cluster seen as strategically critical for the group’s maisons. LVMH said Kohler would draw on his deep retail and client expertise to expand networks and strengthen brand presence across diverse and rapidly evolving markets.
The appointment comes as Chris Chong exits the group after helping structure LVMH’s regional operations and laying the foundations for its expansion in South and Southeast Asia. Chong is leaving to pursue new career opportunities.
Commenting on the move, Bianchi said the region offered “amazing potential” for further growth, adding that Kohler’s entrepreneurial leadership and experience in developing retail networks across cultures would be key to capturing new opportunities. He also credited Chong with consolidating LVMH’s local footprint and reinforcing synergies to support long-term growth in South Asia.
The leadership change underscores LVMH’s renewed focus on Asia, where rising affluence and appetite for luxury continue to reshape the global growth map for high-end brands.
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.
