MAM
Publicis Media announces leadership appointment for APAC; hires Anupriya Acharya as India’s CEO
MUMBAI: Publicis Media Asia Pacific regional CEO Gerry Boyle has announced market leadership appointments for the APAC region.
Responsible for oversight of Publicis Media’s operations in their respective markets, these appointments will leverage the scale and capabilities of its global agency brands Starcom, Zenith, Mediavest | Spark and Optimedia | Blue 449.
APAC Publicis Media Market CEOs will be reporting to Boyle including Publicis Media Greater China (China, Hong Kong, Taiwan) CEO Bertilla Teo, Publicis Media India CEO Anupriya Acharya, Publicis Media Singapore CEO Gareth Mulryan and Publicis Media Australia and New Zealand CEO, Matt James.
In addition to the Market CEO appointments, Chris Nolan is appointed COO of Publicis Media Australia and New Zealand, and Mykim Chikli is appointed COO of Publicis Media Greater China.
“Publicis Media was launched with the vision to get to the future first and these strong, dynamic, and incredibly talented leaders will ensure we do just this,” said Boyle. “I’m excited to work with them as we deliver on our promise to invent modern approaches to gain efficiency, create greater collaboration and effectiveness and drive new levels of scale and client value.”
“It’s a great honor to get the mandate to lead the newly created Publicis Media in India, and build further on the trust, talent and transformation agenda. I am both very excited and happy to have been given this opportunity” says Acharya. “We are at an inflection point. The group is witnessing tremendous energy and vitality and I am fully committed to delivering the Publicis Media vision and promise. We already have formidable scale and footprint in this market in mainline as well as digital and performance media. We have a cutting-edge practice in Analytics, Data and Tech. In the months ahead, we will line up our end-to-end capabilities in a model that is simple, flexible and efficient and puts client satisfaction first, thus eliminating complexity and silos.”
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.
