New Delhi: Noel Tata, the half-brother of the late Ratan Tata, has been unanimously appointed as the chairman of Tata Trusts following Ratan Tata's passing. Noel, already a significant trustee of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, will now oversee the trusts that control Tata Sons, the main holding company of the Tata Group.

Noel Tata's appointment comes after Ratan Tata, a prominent figure in Indian business, passed away on October 9 at the age of 86. Ratan Tata, who held the title of chairman emeritus of Tata Sons and led Tata Trusts, had been hospitalized at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital due to declining health. His passing creates a notable leadership void in the philanthropic side of the Tata empire, a role that Noel Tata is now prepared to assume.

Ratan Tata did not designate a successor for the leadership of Tata Trusts prior to his passing, leading to speculation about the trusts' future governance. However, it was widely expected that Noel Tata would take over, given his deep involvement with Tata Trusts and considerable experience within the conglomerate.

Noel Tata, the son of Naval H. Tata and Simone Tata, is married to Aloo Mistry, connecting him to the influential Mistry family. The Shapoorji Pallonji Group, led by the Mistry family, owns an 18.3% stake in Tata Sons, granting them substantial influence in the business.

Currently, he serves as chairman of Trent, Voltas, Tata International, and Tata Investment Corporation. He joined the board of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust in 2019 and has steadily taken on more significant roles within the group, becoming vice chairman of Titan Company in 2018 and vice chairman of Tata Steel in 2022.

During his tenure as CEO of Tata International Ltd from 2010 to 2021, the company's revenues grew from $500 million to over $3 billion under his leadership. He remains active on the boards of several key Tata companies, including Tata Steel and Voltas.

BI Bureau