Noel Tata, son of Naval H. Tata and Simone Tata, emerges as a one of the two potential candidates for the chairmanship of Tata Trusts following Ratan Tata’s recent passing. With extensive experience in various Tata companies and a longstanding connection to the founding family, Noel’s leadership is seen as crucial for the Trusts and the larger Tata Group. His appointment would maintain Parsi leadership at the Trusts and ensure continuity in the gove .
Noel Tata is already a trustee of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, which together hold a significant 66% stake in Tata Sons, the holding company for the diversified Tata Group. The Trusts has not yet made any comments on succession planning. Following Ratan Tata’s passing, the focus on the Trusts’ leadership has intensified. As the largest public charitable foundation in India, the boards of Tata Trusts will need to appoint a new chairman from among the existing trustees, as Ratan Tata did not name a successor before his death.
This ownership is significant as it includes a diverse portfolio that spans industries from aviation to automobiles. Should Noel Tata be appointed as chairman, it would likely resonate positively with all stakeholders and ensure that a member of the founding family leads the philanthropic organisation which contributed approximately $56 million (Rs 470 crore) in donations during FY23.
Who Is Noel Tata?
Noel N. Tata currently serves as the Chairman and Non-Executive Director of Tata International Limited and has been part of the Tata group for four decades. He holds multiple board positions across several Tata Group companies, including as the Chairman of Trent, Voltas, and Tata Investment Corporation, and as the Vice Chairman of Tata Steel and Titan Company Limited. His most recent executive role was as the Managing Director of Tata International Limited, where he oversaw significant growth, with revenue increasing from $500 million to over $3 billion during his tenure from August 2010 to November 2021.
Noel Tata’s leadership experience extends to Trent Limited, where he served as Managing Director and led its expansion from a single store in 1998 to over 700 stores today. He holds a degree from Sussex University (UK) and has completed the International Executive Programme (IEP) at INSEAD.
Traditionally, chairmen of Tata Trusts have been from the Parsi community, reinforcing the cultural ties within the organisation. If selected, Noel would become the 11th chairman of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the sixth chairman of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust.
Noel Tata was previously considered a potential candidate for the chairmanship of Tata Sons but was ultimately succeeded by Cyrus Mistry, who is Noel’s brother-in-law. After Mistry’s controversial exit, N Chandrasekaran, the then chief of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), became the chairman of Tata Sons. Despite a distance in their past relationship, Noel and Ratan Tata have reportedly reconciled recently, enhancing the familial connection within the leadership, as per a TOI report.
