Leadership Void At Tata Trusts: Noel Tata Emerges As Leading Candidate For Chairman

Ratan Tata's death has created a leadership void at Tata Trusts, which play a critical role in managing the $165 billion Tata Group. He did not name a successor, leaving the decision of appointing the next chairman to the board of trustees. The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust are the main shareholders of Tata Sons, holding 52% of the company, with other trusts owning an additional 14%, bringing the total to 66%. Noel Tata, Ratan Tata’s half-brother and chairman of Trent, is viewed as a top contender to lead the Trusts. His experience within the Tata Group, spanning over four decades, and his family ties make him a strong candidate, aligning with the Parsi community’s preference for a family member to head the Trusts. Noel has been involved with the Trusts since 2019. Other key board members include industrialist Venu Srinivasan and former defence secretary Vijay Singh, both serving as vice-chairmen. The final decision on the new chairman will be made through consensus among the 13 trustees, including influential figures like Mehli Mistry and Darius Khambata. The chosen chairman must balance the philanthropic mission of the Trusts with the commercial interests of Tata Group.