Noel Tata has been appointed as the chairman of Tata Trusts, the philanthropic wing of the Tata Group. He is the son of Naval H. Tata and Simone N. Tata, and takes over the position from his half-brother, Ratan Tata, who recently passed away at the age of 86.
Noel Tata, already a trustee of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust—entities that collectively own a substantial 66% stake in Tata Sons, the holding company for the diversified Tata Group—has taken the helm of Tata Trusts following Ratan Tata's recent passing. The Trusts have yet to comment on succession planning, but the focus on their leadership has intensified in light of Ratan Tata's death. 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 designate a successor prior to his passing.
This ownership is crucial, encompassing a diverse portfolio that spans industries from aviation to automobiles. If Noel Tata is appointed as chairman, it is expected to resonate positively with all stakeholders, ensuring that a member of the founding family leads the philanthropic organization. The Tata Trusts have made significant contributions, donating approximately $56 million (Rs 470 crore) during FY23.
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Who is Noel Tata?Noel N. Tata currently serves as the Chairman and Non-Executive Director of Tata International Limited, bringing four decades of experience within the Tata Group. He holds multiple board positions across several Tata Group companies, including Chairman of Trent, Voltas, and Tata Investment Corporation, as well as 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 achieved significant growth, with revenue soaring from $500 million to over $3 billion (Rs 24,900 crores) during his tenure from August 2010 to November 2021.
Noel Tata's leadership experience includes serving as Managing Director of Trent Limited, where he expanded the company from a single store in 1998 to over 700 today. He holds a degree from Sussex University (UK) and completed the International Executive Programme (IEP) at INSEAD. Traditionally, chairmen of Tata Trusts have been from the Parsi community, reflecting the organization’s cultural ties. If appointed, Noel would become the 11th chairman of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the sixth chairman of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust. He was previously considered a candidate for the chairmanship of Tata Sons but was succeeded by his brother-in-law, Cyrus Mistry. After Mistry's controversial exit, N Chandrasekaran, then CEO of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), took over as chairman of Tata Sons.