Archive · 12 Aug 2026
N Chandrasekaran resigns as Tata Sons chairman, ends decade tenure
N Chandrasekaran is the chairman of Tata Sons, one of India's biggest business groups.
He has led the company for nearly ten years.
He recently told the board that he will step down when his term ends on 20 February 2027.
He decided not to ask for another five-year term because one board member did not support giving him more time.
Even though two big Tata trusts wanted him to stay, no decision could be reached for six months.
So Chandrasekaran chose to leave and asked the company to start looking for a new leader.
He will stay as chairman until his term ends so the company can prepare a smooth handover.
A special committee of five people will choose the next chairman.
Under his leadership, Tata bought Air India and expanded into semiconductors, electronics, electric vehicles and digital services.
His pay last year was about ₹158.66 crore, because most of it depends on the company's profit.
N Chandrasekaran has decided to step down as chairman of Tata Sons when his current term ends on 20 February 2027.
He informed the Tata Sons board of his decision on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, days before the group's annual general meeting.
His decision follows months of uncertainty after one board member withheld support for a five-year extension proposed at the 24 February 2026 board meeting.
His FY26 remuneration of ₹158.66 crore was his highest since Tata Sons began disclosing executive compensation in FY22.
A five-member selection committee, with nominees from the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, the Tata Sons board and an independent member, will choose his successor.
- Who
- N Chandrasekaran, executive chairman of Tata Sons and former chief executive of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
- What
- He will step down as chairman when his term ends and has asked the board to begin selecting a successor.
- When
- Announced on Wednesday, 12 August 2026; his current term ends on 20 February 2027.
- Where
- Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group in India.
- Why
- His proposed five-year extension did not receive unanimous support after one board member opposed it, and no resolution was reached in six months.
- Position
- Executive Chairman, Tata Sons
- Announcement date
- 12 August 2026
- Tenure
- 21 February 2017 – 20 February 2027
- Reason for stepping down
- One board member's opposition prevented unanimous approval of a five-year extension
- FY26 remuneration
- ₹158.66 crore (up from ₹155.81 crore in FY25)
- FY26 pay structure
- ₹17.97 crore salary and benefits; ₹140.69 crore profit-linked commission (about 89%)
- Tata Trusts' stake
- About 66% of Tata Sons
- Successor selection
- Five-member committee; members not yet announced
