MAM
Shubhra Kakkar named MD of Media Marketing Compliance
Mumbai: Media Marketing Compliance (MMC), the independent marketing compliance consultancy, has appointed Shubhra Kakkar as managing director. She will be launching the company’s office in India, based here.
Kakkar has over 18 years of experience in marketing audit advisory and integrated marketing communications. She has an in-depth understanding of agency advertiser dynamics, contractual challenges and marketing procurement across India and South Asian markets.
In her previous role as FirmDecisions VP of marcomms, she led media and creative agency audit & advisory projects. Before working in auditing, she held roles at Edelman India and The PRactice – Porter Novelli, advising Hewlett Packard, LinkedIn, and Tata Consultancy Services.
Commenting on the appointment, MMC CEO Stephen Broderick said, “We continue to receive demand from global clients to include India in its audit programs. It has increasingly become a key market, boasting year on year growth in marketing spend for some time, but it is one with complex practices and a need for greater transparency.”
“Shubhra and I have worked together previously, and I am delighted she is joining us to launch a permanent office in India. It will help us sustain existing client relationships in that market, build new ones, and work closely with organisations such as the Indian Society of Advertisers,” he added.
Talking about her new role, Kakkar said, “Earlier this year, both Dentsu and Magna predicted that ad spend in India is set to grow faster than any other global region in 2021/22. It is a crucial time for our clients to ensure that this investment is properly managed, and we want to become known for bringing transparency to a fascinating, rapidly developing market. I am pleased to be joining MMC and its growing global 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.
