Noel Tata has been appointed the new chairman of Tata Trusts, following the passing of his half-brother Ratan Tata, who died at the age of 86. Noel now leads Tata Group’s philanthropic arm, which plays a crucial role in funding various charitable and social projects across India.
Noel has become the 11th chairman of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the 6th chairman of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust. Together, these two entities own around 52 percent of Tata Sons, the parent company of the Tata Group.
Noel Tata’s Background and Career
Noel Tata, 67, is the son of Naval H Tata and Simone N Tata. He earned his degree from the University of Sussex and attended the International Executive Programme at INSEAD in France. Noel has worked within the Tata Group for over 40 years and currently holds several important positions, including Chairman of Trent, Voltas, and Tata Investment Corporation. He is also the Vice Chairman of Tata Steel and Titan Company Limited.
He became the chairman of Trent Limited in 2014, and during his leadership, the company’s stock value increased by over 6,000 percent in the last decade, making Trent one of the most successful businesses in the Tata Group.
Previously, Noel served as the head of Tata International Limited from 2010 to 2021, growing its revenue from $500 million to over $3 billion.
Family and Personal Life
Noel Tata is married to Aloo Mistry, the sister of Cyrus Mistry, and part of the Shapoorji Pallonji family, which holds an 18.4 percent stake in Tata Sons. Noel and Aloo have three children: Maya, Neville, and Leah. All three are involved in the family’s charitable work through Tata Trusts.
Neville Tata joined Trent in 2016 and currently leads Star Bazaar, while Leah Tata is the vice president at The Indian Hotels Company Limited, which operates the famous Taj Hotels. Their younger sister Mata Tata was instrumental in launching the Tata Neu app.
Unanimous Choice for Leadership
Noel Tata was seen as the most suitable candidate to succeed Ratan Tata as chairman of Tata Trusts. Although other names, such as Mehli Mistry, were considered, the Parsi community strongly supported Noel due to his connection with the Tata family. Noel’s appointment was unanimous, continuing the Tata tradition of having a family member lead the Tata Trusts.
