Noel Tata, Chandrasekaran: Here are top names who may succeed Ratan Tata

Two names have emerged as strong contenders to guide the future of India’s largest and most respected conglomerate — Noel Tata and Natarajan Chandrasekaran.

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Noel Tata, Ratan Tata’s half-brother, is a seasoned insider with deep family ties and a track record of growing Tata companies like Trent and Tata International. On the other hand, N. Chandrasekaran, the current Chairman of Tata Sons, is a technocrat and strategist who has successfully modernised the group’s operations and led it through significant transitions in recent years.

Each brings a distinct leadership style and vision for the Tata Group: Noel, with his focus on sustainable growth and family legacy, and Chandrasekaran, with his emphasis on digital transformation and operational excellence. As the Tata Group looks to navigate a complex business environment while preserving its core values, the decision on its next leader will be crucial in shaping the conglomerate’s future.

Ratan Tata’s legacy

Ratan Tata served as the Chairman of Tata Sons from 1991 until his retirement in December 2012. He briefly returned as interim chairman from October 2016 to February 2017 after the removal of Cyrus Mistry. During his tenure, he transformed the Tata Group into a global powerhouse, overseeing landmark acquisitions such as Jaguar Land Rover and Corus Steel and driving the group’s entry into the passenger car segment with the Tata Indica and the world’s cheapest car, the Tata Nano. His leadership expanded the group’s global footprint and reinforced its core values of ethics, trust, and social responsibility.

The succession question brings two names to the forefront — Noel Tata and Natarajan Chandrasekaran. Each represents a unique leadership style and has contributed significantly to the Tata Group’s growth and stability in different capacities.

Noel Tata: A strategic leader and family stalwart

Noel Tata is a key figure within the Tata Group. His extensive career, strategic leadership roles, and familial ties position him as a potential successor to his half-brother, Ratan Tata. Noel holds several significant roles within the group, including Chairman of Trent Limited, Chairman of Tata Investment Corporation, and Vice Chairman of Titan Company. Although he has maintained a relatively low profile, his impact on the growth and sustainability of various Tata businesses has been substantial.

Born in 1957, Noel Naval Tata is the son of Naval Tata and Simone Tata. He graduated from the University of Sussex in the UK and furthered his education with the International Executive Programme at INSEAD in France. These formative years shaped his approach to business and gave him a global perspective that he later applied to his roles within the Tata Group.

Career Journey

Tata International: Noel began his career at Tata International, where he quickly rose through the ranks. He became the Managing Director in 2010 and oversaw significant growth in the company's turnover from $500 million to over $3 billion by 2021.

Trent Limited: In June 1999, Noel was appointed Managing Director of Trent Limited, a retail company founded by his mother. Under his leadership, Trent expanded significantly, transforming Westside into a profitable retail brand with over 700 stores across various formats.

Titan Company: Noel also serves as Vice Chairman of Titan Company, which encompasses well-known brands like Tanishq and Fastrack. He joined Titan's board in 2003 and has contributed to its strategic direction.

Also Read: 8 lesser-known things about Ratan Tata

Leadership Style and Impact

Noel Tata is known for his conservative approach to business, emphasizing return on capital and sustainable growth. His leadership has been instrumental in making Trent one of India's few profitable retail entities. Under his stewardship, Trent’s market capitalization surged from ₹3,600 crore in 2014 to approximately ₹40,000 crore today. Similarly, Voltas's market value has doubled since he took over as chairman.

N. Chandrasekaran: The operational powerhouse

Natarajan Chandrasekaran, known widely as “Chandra,” has been serving as Chairman of Tata Sons since 2017, providing a steady hand during a period of transition and consolidation. Before this role, he was the CEO and Managing Director of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), where he played a pivotal role in making TCS a leading global IT services company. Chandrasekaran is credited with successfully navigating the group through challenges of digital transformation, strategic divestments, and realigning the conglomerate’s diverse portfolio.

Early life and education

Born in 1963, Chandrasekaran is the first non-Parsi chairman of Tata Sons and hails from a modest background in Tamil Nadu, India. He graduated in Applied Sciences from Coimbatore Institute of Technology and completed his MBA from the Regional Engineering College, Tiruchirappalli (now NIT Trichy).

Career at Tata Group

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS): Chandrasekaran joined TCS in 1987 and became CEO in 2009. During his tenure, he increased TCS’s revenue to over $16 billion and expanded its presence to over 46 countries.

Tata Sons: As Chairman, Chandrasekaran has prioritised restructuring loss-making entities, focusing on the Tata Group’s core strengths, and steering the conglomerate towards sustainability and digital innovation. His strategic focus on new-age industries like electric vehicles (EVs), digital services, and renewable energy is seen as crucial for the group’s future growth.

Leadership Style and Impact

Chandrasekaran is known for his no-nonsense, results-driven approach. He emphasizes operational excellence, data-driven decision-making, and collaboration across business units. His leadership has provided much-needed stability to the group during a turbulent period, especially in the wake of the Cyrus Mistry controversy and Ratan Tata’s brief return as interim chairman.

The Next Generation: Leah, Maya, and Neville Tata

While Noel Tata and Chandrasekaran are the frontrunners, attention has also turned to Noel’s children, who have begun to take on key roles within the Tata Group. This suggests that the next generation of Tatas may continue to shape the conglomerate’s future.

Maya Tata (34): Educated at Bayes Business School and the University of Warwick, Maya has made significant contributions to the Tata Opportunities Fund and Tata Digital. She played a crucial role in launching the Tata Neu App, showcasing her strategic vision and leadership capabilities.

Neville Tata (32): Currently heading Star Bazaar, a hypermarket chain under Trent Limited, Neville has demonstrated his business acumen in retail. His marriage to Manasi Kirloskar further connects him to another influential business family in India.

Leah Tata (39): Leah has focused on the hospitality sector within the Tata Group, particularly with Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces. Her educational background from IE Business School in Spain complements her role in expanding the group’s presence in this industry.

A Shared Leadership?

The question of succession is pivotal for maintaining continuity within one of India’s most prestigious conglomerates and upholding its commitment to innovation and philanthropy. The involvement of Noel Tata, N. Chandrasekaran, and the younger generation suggests a blend of legacy and fresh perspectives that could shape the future trajectory of the Tata Group.

It is possible that instead of a single leader, the Tata Group could embrace a shared leadership model. Chandrasekaran could drive operational and technological initiatives, while Noel Tata and the next generation focus on long-term strategy and legacy preservation.

Also Read: Obituary of Ratan Tata

The Tata Group's future leadership will likely reflect a balance between tradition and innovation. The conglomerate’s greatest challenge will be to nurture and sustain Ratan Tata's legacy while navigating the complexities of the modern business environment — a task that will require the collective stewardship of all those entrusted with the Tata name.