Noel Tata to succeed Ratan Tata; named chairman of Tata Trusts

Tata Trusts hold a controlling 66 per cent stake in Tata Sons, the holding and promoter firm of Tata Group companies.

Noel Tata, half-brother of legendary industrialist late Ratan Tata, will be the new head of Tata Trusts — a collective of charities that indirectly controls the $165-billion salt-to-software conglomerate.

Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/Reuters

Noel Tata has been appointed as chairman of all the trusts that constitute the Tata Trusts.

The trustees of various trusts that comprise the Tata Trusts met at a joint meeting in Mumbai on Friday and condoled the demise of Ratan Tata, chairman, Tata Trusts, and “recalled his yeoman services not only to the Tata Group but also to nation building”, it said.

“In separate meetings held immediately, thereafter, it was unanimously decided to appoint Mr. Noel Naval Tata as the Chairman of the various Trusts that constitute the Tata Trusts and also designate him as chairman, Tata Trusts,” the statement said.

His appointment is effective immediately, it added.

On his appointment, Noel Tata said, “I look forward to carrying on the legacy of Mr Ratan N Tata and the Founders of the Tata Group. Founded more than a century ago, the Tata Trusts are a unique vehicle for undertaking social good.”

He further said, “On this solemn occasion, we rededicate ourselves to carrying on our developmental and philanthropic initiatives and continuing to play our part in nation building.”

The 67-year-old Noel was chosen by the board to lead the string of philanthropic trusts that control the Tata empire. He is already a trustee on the boards of Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Sir Dorabji Tata Trust.

Having functioned mostly under the shadows of his illustrious half-brother, Noel will now have the responsibility of leading the Tata Trusts — broadly comprising Sir Ratan Tata Trust & Allied Trusts, and Sir Dorabji Tata Trust & Allied Trusts — that hold a controlling 66 per cent stake in Tata Sons, the holding and promoter firm of Tata Group companies.

Known to keep a low profile, Noel was also seen at the cremation of his half-brother on Thursday.

The meeting of the Tata Trusts board was held to choose the successor to Ratan Tata after his demise on Wednesday.

Noel has been involved with the Tata Group since 1999, and chairs the successful retail arm Trent, which looks after chains like Westside and Zudio, and commands a market capitalisation of over Rs 2 lakh crore. He is also the chairman of Voltas and Tata International.

Noel is married to Aloo Mistry, the sister of the late Cyrus Mistry and a part of the Shapoorji Pallonji family, which is the single largest private shareholder of Tata Sons with more than 18.4 per cent holding.

Tata Sons operates all commercial enterprises in the group and collectively reported revenues of $165 billion last year.

Noel was seen as a front-runner to succeed Ratan Tata at Tata Trusts, and there was also speculation about Ratan Tata’s long-time confidante Mehli Mistry taking charge.

Son of Naval H Tata and Simone N Tata, Noel Tata currently serves on the board of various Tata Group companies, including as the chairman of Trent, Tata International Ltd, Voltas & Tata Investment Corporation, and as the vice chairman of Tata Steel and Titan Company Ltd.

He has been associated with the Tata Group for over 40 years.

His last executive assignment was as the managing director of Tata International Ltd, the trading and distribution arm of the Tata Group, between August 2010 and November 2021.

He had overseen the growth of the company from a turnover of $500 million to over $3 billion.

Before his stint in Tata International, Noel Tata served as the managing director of Trent Ltd, Tata group’s retail arm.

He played a pivotal role in the growth of Trent across formats, from a one-store operation in 1998 to over 700 stores across formats.

A graduate from Sussex University (UK), Noel completed the International Executive Programme (IEP) from INSEAD.