The children of Noel Tata – late Indian tycoon Ratan Tata’s half-brother who succeeded him as chairman of Tata Trusts, a collective of philanthropic institutions that wield indirect control over the $165 billion Tata Group – are quietly assuming larger responsibilities at one of India’s biggest conglomerates.

Ratan Tata, who died in October, is responsible for turning the sprawling family-run Tata Group conglomerate into a global giant. The businessman was until his death the chairman of Tata Trusts, which through a complex ownership structure has a roughly 66 percent stake in the group’s holding company Tata Sons.

Tata Sons is the single largest shareholder in firms like IT giant Tata Consultancy Services, India’s second-biggest company by market cap, and Tata Motors — which owns British luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover.

Noel Tata’s daughters, Maya and Leah, were today inducted on the board of trustees of the Sir Ratan Tata Industrial Institute (SRTI), a subset of Sir Ratan Tata Trust, according to an Economic Times report.

Maya and Leah replaced Arnaz Kotwal and Freddy Talati.

The transition has caused an internal rift with one outgoing trustee – Arnaz Kotwal – writing to fellow trustees expressing her disapproval at how she was asked to resign to accommodate the incoming members, as per the ET report.

The appointment of Leah and Maya Tata is part of the ongoing succession at the Group.

With this, Noel Tata’s children – Maya, Leah and Neville – are present on the boards of all the smaller Tata Trusts, while they are yet to be inducted on the two main ones – Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Allied Trusts, and Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Allied Trusts.

As a move to infuse young blood into the experienced leadership of Tata Trusts, the three were appointed to the boards of five philanthropic organizations, affiliates of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust.

Leah Tata
Leah Tata is vice president at Indian Hotels Company and handles the Gateway Hotels brand. She is on the boards of the Tata Social Welfare Trust, the Tata Education Trust and the JRD and the Thelma J Tata Trust.

Maya Tata
Maya Tata started her career at the Tata Opportunities Fund, a prominent private equity fund within Tata Capital. She serves on the boards of the Tata Education Trust, the RD Tata Trust, and the JRD and Thelma J Tata Trust.

Neville Tata
Neville Tata took charge last year as head of Star Bazaar, the hypermarket unit of Trent, which houses the Tata Group’s retail businesses. He is on the boards of the Tata Social Welfare Trust, the JRD Tata Trust and the RD Tata Trust.
 

Shantanu Naidu, the manager and confidant of Ratan Tata, has embarked on a fresh chapter of his life after the billionaire-philanthropist’s death. Mr Naidu is now expanding his passion project, Bookies, which is aimed at rekindling the joy of reading among people.

The project, which began in Mumbai, has already made its mark in Pune and Bengaluru and is now set to debut in Jaipur. Mr Naidu recently announced the launch of Jaipur Bookies, inviting book enthusiasts in the city to join the reading event on December 8. On LinkedIn, Mr Naidu expressed his excitement, saying, “Jaipur, it’s time. We will see you on Sunday the 8th at Jaipur Bookies. Sign up for the launch below. SO EXCITED!!!!” A sign-up form was shared for those wishing to participate.

Mr Naidu wishes to expand Bookies to more cities, with Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Surat next on his list. Last month, he hosted a gathering in Bengaluru.

During one of the Bookies sessions, Mr Naidu remarked on the significance of reading in today’s fast-paced world: “Bookies have always been to bring back reading. It seems that reading is very central to the human experience. And it’s just gone back into the background.” He contrasted this with the modern attention span, adding, “We used to watch three-minute Reels. We can’t even do 1:30-minutes (of video) anymore.”

The young entrepreneur’s dedication to the project reflects the mentorship and values he received from Ratan Tata. The late industrialist’s will underscored their unique friendship, with Mr Tata naming Mr Naidu as a recipient and supporting his start-up venture, Goodfellows, by relinquishing his stake in it and clearing Mr Naidu’s education loans, according to The Times of India.

After Mr Tata’s death, Mr Naidu shared a tribute, saying, “The hole that this friendship has now left with me, I will spend the rest of my life trying to fill. Grief is the price to pay for love. Goodbye, my dear lighthouse.” He accompanied the note with a photograph of the two.

Ratan Tata’s patriotism shone brightest in times of crisis, wrote Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his tribute to the national icon who died last month. He said the industrialist’s absence is deeply felt across every segment of the society, not just across the nation but also around the world. Mr Tata died at a Mumbai hospital on October 10, leaving the entire country teary-eyed.

PM Modi recalled Ratan Tata’s “rallying call” to the nation in the wake of the 26/11 attacks.

“For crores of Indians, Shri Ratan Tata’s patriotism shone brightest in times of crisis. His swift reopening of the iconic Taj Hotel in Mumbai after the 26/11 terror attacks was a rallying call to the nation—India stands united, refusing to yield to terrorism,” wrote PM Modi.

Read full text here

He represented the finest traditions of Indian enterprise and a steadfast commitment to the values of integrity, excellence, and service, said PM Modi as he went on to write about his relationship with Mr Tata.

“For the youth, Shri Ratan Tata was an inspiration, a reminder that dreams are worth pursuing and that success can coexist with compassion as well as humility,” the blog read. He took the Tata Group to new heights but wore his achievements lightly, with humility and kindness, wrote the prime minister.

He also praised the industrialist for backing the startup ecosystem in the country. Ratan Tata understood the aspirations of young entrepreneurs and recognised the potential they had to shape India’s future, said PM Modi.

Read | “Ratan Tata Was Visionary Business Leader, Extraordinary Human”: PM Modi

“By backing their efforts, he empowered a generation of dreamers to take bold risks and push boundaries. This has gone a long way in creating a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, which I am confident will continue to positively impact India for decades to come,” wrote the prime minister.

PM Modi said he worked closely with Ratan Tata on the multiple projects in Gujarat. He said the industrialist would often write to him over various issues pertaining to governance or for sending congratulatory wishes after he won elections.

The Prime Minister also called him a “committed partner” in nation-building. Ratan Tata was a vocal advocate for the Swachh Bharat Mission as he understood cleanliness and hygiene are vital for the nation’s progress, he wrote.

He also praised his efforts in the healthcare sector and the fight against cancer. He believed that a just society was one that stood by its most vulnerable, PM Modi wrote.

Ratan Tata represented the finest traditions of Indian enterprise and despite taking Tata Group to new heights, he wore his achievements lightly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote in his blog to pay tribute to the national icon. Ratan Tata died at a Mumbai hospital on October 10 at the age of 86, leaving the entire nation in mourning.

Here is the full text of the blog written by PM Modi:

“It has been a month since Shri Ratan Tata Ji left us. From bustling cities and towns to villages, his absence is deeply felt across every segment of society. Seasoned industrialists, budding entrepreneurs and hardworking professionals mourn his loss. Those passionate about the environment and devoted to philanthropy are equally saddened. His absence has been deeply felt not only across the nation but also around the world.

For the youth, Shri Ratan Tata was an inspiration, a reminder that dreams are worth pursuing and that success can coexist with compassion as well as humility. For others, he represented the finest traditions of Indian enterprise and a steadfast commitment to the values of integrity, excellence and service. Under his leadership, the Tata Group ascended to new heights, embodying respect, honesty and credibility worldwide. Despite this, he wore his achievements lightly, with humility and kindness.

Shri Ratan Tata’s unwavering support for the dreams of others was one of his most defining qualities. In recent years, he became known for mentoring India’s StartUp ecosystem, investing in many promising ventures. He understood the hopes and aspirations of young entrepreneurs and recognised the potential they had to shape India’s future. By backing their efforts, he empowered a generation of dreamers to take bold risks and push boundaries. This has gone a long way in creating a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, which I am confident will continue to positively impact India for decades to come.

He constantly championed excellence, urging Indian enterprises to set global benchmarks. This vision, I hope, will inspire our future leaders to make India synonymous with world-class quality.

His greatness was not restricted to the boardroom or helping fellow humans. His compassion extended to all living beings. His deep love for animals was well-known and he supported every possible effort focused on animal welfare. He often shared photos of his dogs, who were as much a part of his life as any business venture. His life was a reminder to us all that true leadership is measured not just by one’s achievements, but by one’s ability to care for the most vulnerable.

For crores of Indians, Shri Ratan Tata’s patriotism shone brightest in times of crisis. His swift reopening of the iconic Taj Hotel in Mumbai after the 26/11 terror attacks was a rallying call to the nation-India stands united, refusing to yield to terrorism.

On a personal note, I had the privilege of knowing him very closely over the years. We worked closely in Gujarat, where he invested extensively, including in many of the projects was very passionate about. Just a few weeks ago, I was in Vadodara with the President of the Government of Spain, Mr. Pedro S~CHECK~nchez and we jointly inaugurated an aircraft complex where C-295 aircrafts would be made in India. It was Shri Ratan Tata who started working on this. Needless to say, Shri Ratan Tata’s presence was greatly missed.

I remember Shri Ratan Tata Ji as a man of letters-he would frequently write to me on various issues, be it matters of governance, expressing appreciation for government support, or sending congratulatory wishes after electoral victories.

Our close interactions continued when I moved to the Centre and he remained a committed partner in our nation-building efforts. Shri Ratan Tata’s support for the Swachh Bharat Mission was particularly close to my heart. He was a vocal advocate of this mass movement, understanding that cleanliness, hygiene and sanitation are vital for India’s progress. I still remember his heartfelt video message for the Swachh Bharat Mission’s tenth anniversary at the start of October. It was among his final public appearances.

Another cause close to his heart was healthcare and especially the fight against cancer. I recall the programme in Assam two years ago, where we had jointly inaugurated various cancer hospitals in the state. In his remarks that time, he had categorically stated that he wishes to dedicate his final years to healthcare. His efforts to make health and cancer care accessible and affordable were rooted in a profound empathy for those battling diseases, believing that a just society was one that stood by its most vulnerable.

As we remember him today, we are reminded of the society he envisioned-where business can serve as a force for good, where every individual’s potential is valued and where progress is measured in the well-being and happiness of all. He remains alive in the lives he touched and the dreams he nurtured. Generations will be grateful to him for making India a better, kinder and more hopeful place.”

German lender Deutsche Bank on Thursday said it has installed a commemorative plaque to honour the legacy of industrialist Ratan Tata in Deutsche House.

The South Mumbai building, a heritage property, was acquired by the lender in 1992 and served as the private residence of the Tata family.

Ratan Tata’s half-brother and current chairman of Tata Trusts Noel Tata was present at the event, as per an official statement.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Noel Tata, the half-brother of late Indian tycoon Ratan Tata, has been appointed to the board of Tata Sons, the group company that operates the $165 billion salt-to-software conglomerate, the company’s website on Tuesday (November 5, 2024) showed.

The move follows Noel Tata’s appointment last month as the chairman of the powerful and influential philanthropic arm of the Tata group, called Tata Trusts.

Tata Trusts owns 66% of Tata Sons and appoints a third of the directors to the Tata Sons board. Those appointees receive special veto powers.

Internal trust and company rules do not allow the Tata Trusts chairman to head Tata Sons as well, a source had told Reuters earlier.

Reuters reported earlier that Noel Tata, 67, will likely join the board of Tata Sons.

The parent company, Tata Sons, oversees 30 firms across consumer goods, hotels, automobiles, and airlines and houses brands such as Jaguar Land Rover and Tetley Tea in its portfolio.

Ratan Tata, one of India’s most well-known business titans, died in early October, aged 86.

Baramati:

Former Union minister Sharad Pawar on Tuesday claimed that the Final Assembly Line (FAL) of Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus in Gujarat was to be set up in Maharashtra, but was shifted at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Ratan Tata wanted the project to come up in Maharashtra, and in consultation with him, a 500 acre plot in Nagpur MIDC area was marked for it,” Mr Pawar said, addressing an election rally in Baramati assembly constituency.

“This was during the Manmohan Singh-led government, of which I was a part,” Mr Pawar said. “Our government changed and when Modi became the PM, he called Tata and told him to set up the factory in Gujarat,” Mr Pawar said.

That project was to have generated thousands of jobs in Maharashtra, Mr Pawar said. Thousands of jobs in Maharashtra were also lost when Modi asked Foxconn to set up the (semiconductor) factory, meant for Maharashtra, in Gujarat, the veteran politician claimed.

“The Prime Minister does not belong to any one state but has to think of the entire country,” Mr Pawar said.

There has been no rebuttal of Mr Pawar’s claims from the government or the BJP so far.

Providing a major boost to the government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) programme, Monday’s inauguration of the facility is the first instance of private sector setting up an aircraft FAL in India.

The inauguration of the FAL at Vadodara by Modi and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez on Monday came three years after the IAF formalised the acquisition of 56 Airbus C295 aircraft to replace its legacy AVRO fleet.

As per the contract, 40 units will be manufactured and assembled in partnership with TASL at this FAL, while 16 will be delivered to the IAF in ‘fly-away’ condition from Airbus’ final assembly line in Seville, Spain. To date, a total of six aircraft have already been delivered. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Vadodara:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today jointly inaugurated the TATA Aircraft Complex for manufacturing C-295 aircraft with his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez in Gujarat’s Vadodara.

A total of 56 aircraft are there under the C-295 programme, of which 16 are being delivered directly by the aircraft manufacturing company Airbus from Spain, and the remaining 40 will be built at the facility, which is the first private sector Final Assembly Line (FAL) for military aircraft in India.

It will involve the full development of a complete ecosystem from the manufacture to assembly, test and qualification, to delivery and maintenance of the complete lifecycle of the aircraft. The Ministry of Defence in 2021 signed a Rs 21,935-crore contract with Airbus Defense and Space SA, Spain for the supply of 56 aircraft.

#WATCH | Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, jointly inaugurated the TATA Aircraft Complex for manufacturing C-295 aircraft at TATA advanced systems limited (TASL) Campus in Vadodara

A total of 56 aircraft are there… pic.twitter.com/4jc2YTx2EC

— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2024

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, PM Modi said the aircraft manufactured at the Vadodara facility will also be exported in the future.

“The Tata-Airbus manufacturing facility will strengthen the India-Spain relations and the ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ mission,” PM Modi, who laid the foundation stone of the FAL plant of C-295 aircraft in Vadodara in October 2022, said.

He also paid tribute to former Tata Sons chairman Ratan Tata, who is said to be the brains behind the project. Mr Tata died at the age of 86 earlier this month.

Speaking at the inauguration of the C-295 Aircraft facility in Vadodara. It reinforces India’s position as a trusted partner in global aerospace manufacturing.https://t.co/VvuC5izfPM

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 28, 2024

At the event, Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran said the project was originally conceived by Ratan Tata in 2012.

“I will fail in my duty if I forget to mention that this project was originally conceived more than a decade ago, in 2012, by the then Tata Sons Chairman, Ratan Tata Ji, who led the whole concept to build a relationship with Airbus and created this partnership with Airbus and laid the foundation stone for this opportunity. So, I would like to remember him for his visionary leadership in this very path-breaking initiative,” he said.

Why C-295 Aircraft Is A Game-Changer

The C-295 is a transport aircraft of 5-10 tonne capacity with contemporary technology that will replace the Indian Air Force’s ageing Avro-748 planes. The C-295 is known to be a superior aircraft used for tactical transport of up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers and for logistic operations to locations that are not accessible to current heavier aircraft.

The aircraft, called “robust and reliable”, with a flight endurance of up to 11 hours, can carry out multi-role operations under all weather conditions.

It can routinely operate day as well as night combat missions from desert to maritime environments.

A game changer for #IAF and #AatmanirbhartainDefence–
Tata & @AirbusDefence to manufacture C-295MW transport aircraft in India.
What makes the aircraft special? Check out here@rajnathsingh@IAF_MCC@drajaykumar_ias@DefProdnIndia@TataCompanies#IAFTransportAircraftpic.twitter.com/W30131dcVc

— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) October 29, 2022

The C-295 has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and para-dropping of troops and cargo. Short take-off/land from semi-prepared surfaces is another of its features.

All 56 aircraft under the agreement will also be fitted with an indigenous Electronic Warfare suite manufactured by Indian DPSUs – Bharat Electronics Ltd and Bharat Dynamics Limited.

New Delhi:

Ratan Tata, the late Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, felt that his half-brother Noel Tata needed greater exposure and experience in handling difficult assignments to succeed him as the head of the principal investment holding firm and promoter of Tata companies, according to a recently released book.

Noel Tata, recently appointed as the Chairman of Tata Trusts — a collective of charities that indirectly controls the USD 165-billion salt-to-software conglomerate — after the death of Ratan Tata, was among several candidates interviewed in March 2011 when a search for his successor was underway.

Ratan Tata had decided to stay away from a selection committee to find his successor despite many wanting him to be a part of it — a decision he would later regret, according to a biography of the late veteran industrialist and philanthropist — Ratan Tata A Life — authored by Thomas Mathew and published by HarperCollins Publishers.

One of the reasons for Ratan Tata to stay away from the committee was that there were many aspirants from within the Tata Group, and he “wanted to give the contenders the comfort and confidence of knowing that a collective body of equals would recommend one of them based on a unanimous decision, or if not by a majority, and not on account of the Chairman’s preference”.

The second reason was more personal as there was the “overwhelming view that his half-brother Noel Tata was the ‘default candidate’ to succeed him” amid a push from the Parsis in the company and the traditionalists in the community as they considered him to be one of them.

However, according to the book, for Ratan Tata, only “the talent and the values of the person mattered”, with religion, community or the region contenders came from hardly relevant.

Ratan Tata was even open for the selection committee to consider foreigners if they had the right qualifications. The late Chairman Emeritus was also clear that he should not be seen as steering the selection committee or ‘pushing it in one direction or the other’.

Even in the event of Noel not being selected, Ratan Tata did not want to be seen as ‘anti-Noel’, wrote the author.

“Perhaps, if Noel had had the experience of handling difficult assignments, he could have established his credentials more forcefully,” the book quoted Ratan Tata as saying.

More importantly, Noel could have had the opportunity to demonstrate the ‘courage and enterprise’ that JRD had identified as a prerequisite to be appointed as the Tata group chairman.

“For Noel to compete successfully for the top post ‘he should have greater exposure than he has had,” said Ratan Tata. “Partly, his not having it has been his own choice.” Citing an interview with ‘the Times’, the book noted that Ratan Tata had stated that he ‘rose up through the business’ and added that even if he had a son, he would have done something to not have his son automatically become his successor.

Late Cyrus Mistry, who was initially part of the selection committee, was chosen to succeed Ratan Tata, who retired as Chairman of Tata Sons in December 2012.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Industrialist-philanthropist Ratan Tata, who died earlier this month, has ensured “unlimited” care for his dog, Tito, in his will. Tito was adopted roughly six years ago after the death of Mr Tata’s previous dog. He will be cared for by his long-time cook, Rajan Shaw. Setting aside wealth for pets is a common practice in the West, but it remains a rarity in India.

Ratan Tata, who died on October 9 at age 86, was known for his love for dogs. On social media, Tata frequently advocated for the welfare of stray dogs and encouraged others to show compassion towards them. He even dedicated himself to finding homes for abandoned pets and worked to ensure their safety.

According to a report in The Times of India, Ratan Tata, whose estate is estimated to exceed Rs 10,000 crore, also designated assets to various beneficiaries, including his foundation, brother Jimmy Tata, half-sisters Shireen and Deanna Jejeebhoy, and household staff members.

Mr Tata’s will also has arrangements for his butler, Subbiah, with whom he maintained a close bond for over three decades.

The will also mentions Shantanu Naidu, Mr Tata’s executive assistant. According to the report, he has relinquished his stake in Mr Naidu’s companionship venture, Goodfellows, while also covering his educational expenses abroad.

Among his assets are a 2,000-square-foot beach bungalow in Alibaug, Maharashtra, a two-storey residence on Mumbai’s Juhu Tara Road, and fixed deposits exceeding Rs 350 crore. He also holds a 0.83% stake in Tata Sons, the parent company of the $165-billion Tata Group.

In line with the Tata Group’s legacy of donating shares to charitable trusts, his stake in Tata Sons will be transferred to the Ratan Tata Endowment Foundation (RTEF). Beyond shares in Tata Sons, Ratan Tata’s interests in other Tata Group enterprises, including Tata Motors, will also be redirected to RTEF.

The Halekai house in Colaba, where he lived until his death, is owned by Ewart Investments, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, which will determine its future. Mr Tata’s portfolio of 20-30 luxury vehicles is currently at his Halekai residence and the Taj Wellington Mews service apartments in Colaba. The future of this collection remains under deliberation, with possibilities, including acquisition by the Tata Group for exhibition in its Pune museum or auctioning.

The Juhu property on a quarter-acre plot, overlooking the beach, was inherited by Ratan Tata and his family following the death of his father, Naval Tata. It has reportedly remained closed for over two decades, with discussions on for its potential sale.

The probate process for his will is expected to take several months. It will be examined by the Bombay High Court.