Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Tata Succession Uncertainty: Noel Tata or Chandrasekaran
The Tata group is a very large Indian business group with companies in areas such as software, airlines, hotels and cars.
Its current leader, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, says he will leave his job next February.
He says a third term was not approved because one board member did not support it.
Noel Tata is considered a likely replacement.
Noel has led some successful Tata businesses, including the Trent retail company.
Some people think he should have become leader earlier because he is part of the Tata family.
Others may prefer Chandrasekaran’s professional experience and believe his departure could still be reconsidered.
The decision is complicated by disagreements among Tata trustees and concerns about Air India and the group’s future plans.
Natarajan Chandrasekaran plans to leave as Tata Sons executive chairman next February after one board member opposed a third term.
Noel Tata is widely viewed as the leading candidate to succeed Chandrasekaran and could gain control of the conglomerate.
Noel chairs Tata’s trusts and helped turn Trent into a successful retail business generating $2 billion in revenue.
Chandrasekaran’s tenure has faced setbacks, including Air India losses, aviation concerns and questions about his expansion plan.
The succession dispute reflects longstanding tensions involving Ratan Tata, Noel Tata and the Mistry family.
- Who
- Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Noel Tata, Ratan Tata, Tata Sons’ board and the Tata trusts are central to the succession question.
- What
- Chandrasekaran has announced that he will step down as Tata Sons executive chairman, while Noel Tata is seen as a likely successor.
- When
- Chandrasekaran is expected to leave at the end of his current five-year term next February; the board’s decision was questioned at a February meeting.
- Where
- The leadership discussions concern Tata Sons and the Tata group in India, with meetings involving senior Indian government ministers.
- Why
- The succession is uncertain because a board member opposed Chandrasekaran’s third term, while trustees and others have differed over leadership, governance and the group’s future strategy.
Case for Noel Tata
Case for Chandrasekaran
Family succession versus professional experience
Case for Noel Tata
Noel Tata is a family member who chairs the trusts, has overseen Trent’s growth and has developed Tata’s international trading business.
Case for Chandrasekaran
Ratan Tata previously favored proven professional performance and reportedly believed Noel had not handled enough difficult assignments.
Whether Chandrasekaran should continue
Case for Noel Tata
Chandrasekaran’s planned departure opens the way for Noel, who may feel the leadership should have passed to him when Ratan Tata retired in 2012.
Case for Chandrasekaran
Chandrasekaran says his third term failed because one board member withheld support, and the article notes that this obstacle could potentially be removed before or during the August 18 annual general meeting.
Assessment of Chandrasekaran’s tenure
Case for Noel Tata
Critics can point to Air India’s losses, aviation-related problems and questions about the group’s large expansion plan.
Case for Chandrasekaran
Chandrasekaran previously ran the highly profitable Tata Consultancy Services and remains a professional leader whose continuation has been supported by the two main Tata trusts.
- Current chairman
- Natarajan Chandrasekaran, who became chairman of Tata Sons after leading Tata Consultancy Services.
- Expected departure
- Chandrasekaran plans to leave at the end of his current five-year term next February.
- Likely successor
- Noel Tata is described as the leading candidate to take control of the group.
- Tata group ownership
- Tata trusts hold a controlling 66% share in Tata Sons, according to the article.
- Mistry stake
- The Shapoorji Pallonji group is Tata’s largest minority shareholder, with an 18% stake.
- Air India losses
- Air India’s losses reportedly more than doubled to nearly $3 billion in 2025-26.
- Expansion plan
- Chandrasekaran’s proposed five-year expansion plan is valued at $120 billion.