Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Chandrasekaran steps down as Tata Sons chairman, ending nine-year tenure
The Tata Group is a very big family of companies in India.
Its chairman, the top boss, is N Chandrasekaran.
He joined the group's IT company, TCS, almost 40 years ago and rose to lead it.
He has been the chairman of the whole Tata Group for about nine years.
He just told the board that he will not stay on for another term.
He will keep working until his term ends in February 2027.
He was the first chairman of Tata who was not part of the Tata family.
Under him, the group brought back Air India, an airline started long ago by JRD Tata.
He also helped the group start making computer chips and batteries for electric cars.
The group's sales grew last year, but its profit went down, and now the company must choose a new chairman.
N Chandrasekaran will not seek reappointment as Tata Sons chairman, ending a nine-year tenure when his term concludes on February 20, 2027.
The announcement followed a rift with the board; a five-year extension recommended by Tata Trusts was blocked by one board member, and differences persisted over six months.
He took over in 2017 after the board ousted Cyrus Mistry, becoming the first chairman of the group from outside the Tata family.
Air India returned to Tata ownership in January 2022, and Vistara was merged into the airline under his aviation consolidation.
He expanded the group into semiconductors, EV battery gigafactories and digital retail, with FY26 revenue rising 17% to Rs 6,61,399.21 crore while profit after tax fell to Rs 26,615.72 crore.
- Who
- N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons
- What
- Announced he will not seek a third term as chairman, ending a nine-year tenure and triggering a succession process
- When
- Announced on Wednesday, ahead of the group's annual general meeting on August 18; his term formally ends on February 20, 2027
- Where
- Tata Sons, India
- Why
- Ongoing differences with the board over the group's leadership and strategic direction; a five-year extension recommended by Tata Trusts failed to pass because one board member opposed it, and the issue could not be resolved
Chandrasekaran and his supporters
Board critics and Tata Trusts leadership
Third term as chairman
Chandrasekaran and his supporters
Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust unanimously recommended a five-year extension for Chandrasekaran.
Board critics and Tata Trusts leadership
The Tata Sons board did not pass the extension because one member opposed it; Noel Tata reportedly opposed another term for him.
Strategic bets vs. losses
Chandrasekaran and his supporters
Supporters argue the Air India acquisition, the digital push and the electronics expansion were strategic long-term investments.
Board critics and Tata Trusts leadership
Critics point to continued losses from several ventures, including Air India's loss doubling to Rs 22,238 crore and Tata Digital's loss of Rs 4,974 crore.
- Position
- Chairman, Tata Sons
- Tenure
- 2017 to February 20, 2027 (nine years)
- Distinction
- First chairman from outside the Tata family
- FY26 remuneration
- Rs 158.66 crore (up from Rs 155.81 crore in FY25)
- FY26 consolidated revenue
- Rs 6,61,399.21 crore (up 17% from FY20)
- FY26 profit after tax
- Rs 26,615.72 crore (down from Rs 40,985.19 crore in FY25)
- Air India return
- January 2022
- Air India loss (2025)
- Rs 22,238 crore
