Noel Tata has been appointed as the chairman of Tata Trusts, the philanthropic arm of the Tata Group, as reported by CNBC-TV18 on October 11. This decision, reached unanimously at a meeting in Mumbai, comes after the passing of his half-brother Ratan Tata, who passed away on October 9 at the age of 86. Ratan Tata, who remained unmarried and without children, did not designate a successor at Tata Trusts, making Noel Tata’s appointment particularly significant. The Trusts hold a 66% stake in Tata Sons, the holding company of the more than 150-year-old Tata Group.
Noel Tata’s leadership is seen as a continuation of Ratan Tata’s legacy. Corporate lawyer HP Ranina has praised the choice, expressing confidence in Noel’s ability to maintain “continuity and harmony” within the organization. R Gopalakrishnan, a former board member of Tata Sons, called Noel a “nice and sensible man” with strong business acumen, which will benefit the Trusts.
Noel has a proven track record, having chaired Trent Ltd., a successful retail arm of Tata Group, since 2014. Under his leadership, Trent’s shares have surged by over 6,000% in the last decade. Previously, he served as the head of Tata International Ltd. from 2010 to 2021, during which he grew the company’s revenue from $500 million to over $3 billion. He is also a board member of several major Tata firms, including Tata Steel and Voltas.
Noel Tata’s style of leadership has been described as quiet but effective, with Vallabh Bhanshali of Enam Holding noting that his success with Trent reflects his understated approach. Bhanshali added that Noel now faces a much larger responsibility as the chairman of Tata Trusts, but the group’s strong position in emerging businesses gives it a significant advantage.
Noel Tata, 67, is the son of Naval Tata and Simone Tata, and was a frontrunner to succeed Ratan at the Trusts. His children—Maya, Neville, and Leah—are also trustees of family-linked charities.
