Who owns majority stakes in Tata Sons, it’s not Ratan Tata, Jimmy Tata, Noel Tata, the owner is…
Ratan N Tata was among India’s most respected and loved industrialists, who took Tata Group to new heights and touched the fabric of the nation through his contributions across different areas including philanthropy.
One of the most internationally well-known Indian business leaders, Ratan Tata was known for his humility and compassion while also his vision, business acumen, integrity and ethical leadership.
The passing of Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, has left a significant leadership gap at Tata Trusts. Ratan Tata’s passing leaves the trusts without a leader, and an interim chairman may be appointed while the trustees deliberate on a final choice.
Majority Shareholders Of Tata Sons
The philanthropic entities that hold a majority stake in the $165-billion Tata Group. Tata Trusts, which oversee a large portion of the company, play a crucial role in ensuring the stability and direction of the conglomerate. With no successor appointed by Tata before his death, the responsibility of selecting the new chairman now lies with the board of trustees.
Tata Trusts, particularly the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust, collectively hold a 66% stake in Tata Sons, the principal holding company of the Tata Group. This makes the trusts the company’s primary shareholders, giving the chairmanship of these bodies immense significance.
Structural Changes in Tata Trusts’ Governance
In the past, the roles of Tata Sons chairman and Tata Trusts chairman were held by the same individual, as seen with Ratan Tata. However, in 2022, the governance structure of Tata Trusts was revised, separating the responsibilities of these two positions. This shift was made to enhance governance within the group, ensuring clearer oversight and management of both the trusts and the Tata Group.
Next Chairman of Tata Trusts
With Ratan Tata’s passing, speculation has arisen about who will succeed him as chairman of Tata Trusts. The trustees, who are expected to make a decision by consensus, will play a critical role in determining the next leader. Several individuals on the board are being considered for the position, though no definitive choice has been made.
Among the potential successors, two vice-chairmen of the Trusts have garnered attention. Venu Srinivasan, who is An industrialist from the TVS Group who has been actively involved in the governance of Tata Trusts since 2018. Vijay Singh who is a former defence secretary who has also played an important role within the Trusts.
However, neither Srinivasan nor Singh is seen as the top contender for the chairmanship. According to media reports, the leading candidate is Noel Tata, Ratan Tata’s half-brother and chairman of Trent, a Tata Group company.