Key figures include Noel Naval Tata, Ratan Tata’s half-brother, who is considered a potential successor. Noel Tata has been with the Tata Group for four decades and has held key positions including Chairman of Trent, Tata International, Voltas and Tata Investment Corporation, as well as Vice Chairman of Tata Steel and Titan Company. He is also a trustee of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust.

Noel’s children – Leah, Maya and Neville – are also growing within the company and carving their own path within the group.

A look at emerging leaders within the Tata group

Leah Tata, Noel Tata’s eldest child, holds a master’s degree in marketing from IE Business School in Madrid. She joined the Tata Group in 2006 and started as an Assistant Sales Manager at Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces. She currently holds the position of Vice President at The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), after moving through various positions within the company.

Her younger sister, Maya Tata, started her professional career as an analyst with Tata Capital, the group’s leading financial services firm. Meanwhile, their brother, Neville Tata, began his career at Trent, a retail company their father helped found.

Neville Tata, 32, plays an active role in the family business, especially in his leadership of Star Bazaar, a prominent hypermarket chain under Trent Limited. His marriage to Manasi Kirloskar, of the Toyota Kirloskar Group, adds another layer of industry ties, further strengthening his position as a potential future leader within the Tata Group.

The legacy of Ratan Tata

Ratan Tata became chairman of Tata Sons in 1991, succeeding his great-grandfather, who founded the group over a century ago. During his tenure, he led several key initiatives, including the launch of Tata Teleservices in 1996 and taking Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) public in 2004.

Although he stepped down as chairman in 2012, Tata retained the honorary title of chairman emeritus for several Tata companies, including Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Tata Chemicals and Tata Industries. He also continued to play an important role in philanthropy through his leadership of the Tata Trusts. His contributions to industry and society have earned him India’s prestigious civilian awards, the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008.

First publication: October 10, 2024 | 1:20 PM IST