2 weeks ago
Chandrasekaran's exit signals Noel Tata's tightening grip at Tata Sons
There is a very big company family in India called Tata that makes many different products and employs more than one million people.
A famous leader named Ratan Tata used to be in charge, and when he passed away in 2024, his quiet half-brother Noel Tata took over an important job.
Noel's new job is leading the Tata Trusts, the special group that owns 66 percent of the main Tata company, Tata Sons.
Noel does not like attention, but he has a good record of building popular stores called Westside and Zudio.
Another man named Mehli Mistry, who was Ratan Tata's close friend, did not want Noel in charge and made things difficult.
In the end, Mehli Mistry's time on the trust ended, and he left with a polite goodbye message.
Noel also started asking tough questions about company losses and about the decisions of the current leader, N Chandrasekaran.
Because Chandrasekaran wanted everyone to agree first, he chose to wait instead of having a vote to extend his time as leader.
Now Noel Tata has a bigger say in who will lead Tata next, and he has even brought his son Neville onto a trust board.
So this story is about how quiet, careful leaders can rise to power inside one of India's biggest business groups.
Noel Tata, 69, became Chairman of Tata Trusts after Ratan Tata's death in 2024, having been passed over for the Tata Sons chairmanship in 2012 and 2016.
Mehli Mistry, a long-time Ratan Tata confidante, had his trustee reappointment rejected on October 28 and stepped down on November 5.
At a February 24 Tata Sons board meeting, Noel Tata questioned losses at unlisted group companies and set conditions for extending N Chandrasekaran's tenure.
Four directors backed extending Chandrasekaran for a third five-year term, but he proposed postponing the decision to maintain consensus-based governance.
With Chandrasekaran out of the leadership race, Noel Tata is likely to influence the selection of the next Tata Sons Chairman; Tata Trusts hold 66% of Tata Sons.
- Who
- Noel Tata, Chairman of Tata Trusts and half-brother of the late Ratan Tata; N Chandrasekaran, Tata Sons Chairman; and Mehli Mistry, a former trustee and Ratan Tata confidante.
- What
- Noel Tata consolidated control of Tata Trusts as Mehli Mistry departed, while Chandrasekaran exited the leadership race for Tata Sons Chairman.
- Where
- Bombay House, the headquarters of the Tata Trusts in India.
- When
- After Ratan Tata's death in 2024; key events occurred on February 24, October 28, and November 5.
- Why
- Chandrasekaran prioritized consensus-based decisions and stepped back, leaving Noel Tata influential over the group's leadership transition.
Noel Tata's new leadership
Ratan Tata loyalists' resistance
Tata Sons board representation
Noel Tata's new leadership
Noel Tata supported reappointing Vijay Singh as nominee director and opposed Mehli Mistry joining the board.
Ratan Tata loyalists' resistance
The Mehli Mistry-led bloc opposed Vijay Singh's reappointment and sought a board seat for Mehli Mistry.
Leadership and decision-making style
Noel Tata's new leadership
Noel Tata questioned losses at unlisted companies and set conditions for approving Chandrasekaran's third term.
Ratan Tata loyalists' resistance
Chandrasekaran preferred postponing the decision to preserve the consensus-based tradition of late Ratan Tata.
Key facts
- Noel Tata's age
- 69
- Tata Trusts stake in Tata Sons
- 66%
- Shapoorji Pallonji stake in Tata Sons
- 18.3%
- Tata Group revenue
- More than $180 billion
- Tata Group companies
- 31
- Tata Group reach
- More than 100 countries across six continents
- Tata Group employees
- Over one million
- Mehli Mistry departure
- November 5, after his trustee reappointment was rejected on October 28
Quotes
Mehli Mistry
Influential figure within the Tata Trusts, former confidante of Ratan Tata
“"precipitating matters would cause irreparable harm to the reputation of the Tata Trusts"”
indianexpress.com









