Noel Tata prefers low-profile work style
He was considered a potential candidate to lead Tata Sons - the holding company of the Tata Group, when legendary industrialist and his half-brother Ratan Tata was retiring in 2012. But the low-profile, Irish national Noel Tata saw his brother-in-law Cyrus Mistry take that role.
After the death of Ratan Tata, Noel, 67, succeeded him as the head of Tata Trusts, a collective of charities that indirectly controls the USD 165 billion business empire spread across 100 countries.
Noel is known for his relatively low-profile leadership style, a stark contrast to predecessor’s more public-facing role. Though being on the board of several Tata Group firms, Noel has remained out of the limelight and instead focused on operations.
His children — Maya, Neville and Leah — were appointed as trustees in multiple trusts associated with the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Sir Dorabji Tata Trust earlier this year.
After graduating from Sussex University in the United Kingdom, Noel completed the International Executive Programme (IEP) from INSEAD in France.
His last executive assignment was as the Managing Director of Tata International Ltd, the trading and distribution arm of the Tata Group. He had overseen the growth of the company from a turnover of USD 500 million to over USD 3 billion.
Noel’s father Naval was previously married to Soonoo Commisariat, with whom he fathered two children, Ratan and Jimmy. While Ratan and Jimmy never married, Noel is married to Aloo Mistry, daughter of late Pallonji Mistry and sister of late Cyrus Mistry. The Shapoorji Pallonji family owns an 18.4 per cent stake in Tata Sons.
Leah currently is vice president at The Indian Hotels Co - the firm that runs the Taj group of hotels.
