MAM
Melissa Madden is BBC Worldwide Australasia director of brands and marketing
MUMBAI: Melissa Madden, former director of marketing with Seven Network, has been appointed to the role of BBC Worldwide Australasia director of brands and marketing. The announcement was made by acting GM Blair McQuade.
She has over 20 years of senior experience managing the marketing functions of blue chip brands, including Qantas Airways, Jetstar Airways and the Seven Network.
She will be responsible for the effective management of BBC Worldwide Australasia‘s marketing department, delivering marketing and brand management services across all business areas, from channels, global brands and consumer products to programme sales, ad sales, digital and live events.
She will lead the team that provides marketing, brand development and consumer insight expertise to the business, creating a cohesive marketing strategy and maximising the value of BBC Worldwide‘s brands.
Working closely with the incoming MD for Australasia, Jon Penn, and the executive leadership team, she will help to drive the business strategy in Australia and New Zealand, so that BBC Worldwide can maximise revenues and growth in territory.
McQuade said, ‘Melissa has an impeccable track record in launching new brands and consolidating portfolios for maximum impact and growth. As BBC Worldwide Australasia looks to an exciting future of growth, her experience in marketing media brands and her vision for new brand development will be an asset to the business.‘
Madden said, “I am thrilled to be joining the BBC Worldwide team in Australia and New Zealand. BBC is one of the world‘s great brands and is poised for a new chapter of growth and engagement in our market under the leadership of Jon and Blair. It is very exciting to be part of this and I look forward to building on the success already achieved by the team.”
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.
