Noel Tata
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
A brief profile
Reeba Zachariah, Oct 12, 2024: The Times of India
From: Oct 12, 2024: The Times of India
See graphic:
Noel Tata, a brief profile
Noel Tata was, until recently, the less publicly known of the two Tata half-brothers. Ratan Tata loomed larger-than-life in popular and corporate imagination — Noel wasn’t instantly recognisable outside India Inc circles. But the story of the new chairman of Tata Trusts is no less interesting for that.
Consider this: when he drives a Tata Group business, careful attention to bottom lines is his hallmark, when he drives a car, speed is his signature. Or this: most corporate top bosses would never be at work minus their suit, Noel rarely appears in one.
Born on Nov 12, 1956, to Simone and Naval Tata, Noel studied economics at the University of Sussex, UK. His corporate journey began with a job in Nestle, UK. His return to India marked the start of a low-key yet impactful career with Tata International, where he rose to senior general manager, before moving to Lakme Exports in 1998. When Lakme Exports transformed into Trent (acronym for Tata Retail Enterprise), he took over as its managing director in June 1999, and became its chairman after 15 years.
From a single store in Bengaluru, Noel expanded Trent into a Rs 12,277-crore company with over 850 stores across India. Under him, Trent pioneered the private- label model in Indian retail — offering almost all products under the Westside brand, a move that drove profitability and differentiated the company in a competitive market.
In addition to his work at Trent, he currently chairs Voltas, Tata Investment Corporation, and Tata International, and holds vice-chairman roles at Tata Steel and Titan. His work with Tata International, in particular, has been a return to his early roots, and he’s helped drive its revenue from Rs 2,246 crore in FY11 to Rs 28,165 crore in FY24.
There are traits he shared with Ratan Tata — humility, a grounded approach, and a focus on people. They differed in one key attribute. Ratan, despite his own reserved nature, was known to take bold risks — driving Tata Group acquisitions like Corus and JLR and steering Tata Motors’ ambitious projects like the Indica and Nano, while Noel has always focused on profitable and sustainable growth, not attracted to striking mega global deals.
One thing the brothers undeniably shared, however, was a love for cars. While Ratan’s passion for automobiles is well-documented, Noel’s fondness for driving fast is less known. Known to zip down highways, Noel’s taste for speed offers a rare glimpse into a more thrillseeking side of a low-key businessperson.
A non-smoker, Noel is often described as a workaholic, mostly turning up in semiformals, paying close attention to detail, and preferring to remain behind the scenes. His colleagues say he avoids the traditional CEO attire of suits and ties, opting instead for a more casual approach. “He is forever curious,” says someone close to him. “He’s not a party person and when time permits, he’ll be found at his Alibaug house.” His relationship with Ratan was always cordial. But there was a public perception of a certain distance between the brothers. The two were rarely seen together in public. But over time, Ratan and Noel were thought to have grown closer. Ratan attended Noel’s son Neville’s wedding in 2019. Noel also always made sure to be present at Tata Group’s significant moments, from the launch of Nano to the Corus acquisition. In 2019, Noel’s responsibilities expanded when he joined the boards of Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, signalling his increasing involvement in the group’s philanthropic ventures. Now, with the passing of Ratan, Noel steps up as chairman of Tata Trusts, the entity that owns a majority stake in Tata Sons. His leadership is expected to maintain the Tata family’s influence and the group’s connection to the Parsi community.
Noel’s personal life has also been closely intertwined with the broader Tata legacy. He is married to Aloo Mistry, sister of the late Cyrus Mistry, and his children — Maya, Neville, and Leah — too are trustees of some Tata Trusts. They also work in Tata Group companies. As he takes the helm of one of India’s most influential philanthropic organisations, he will get a lot more public attention. In the rarefied circles of India Inc and within the sprawling $165-billion business empire, there will also be a great deal of interest in the relationship between Noel and the 61-yearold N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons, the group’s holding company. A professional executive who rose through the ranks to head TCS, Chandra in 2017 became the first non-Parsi to chair Tata Sons and has increasingly been the face of the group, especially in interactions with government as well as the broader world.
For the moment though the attention of the world is on Noel Tata. To use a driving metaphor, his career has just gone into fifth gear.
