Who is Noel Tata, Ratan Tata’s Half Brother Who Could Be Successor?

New Delhi: With the demise of Ratan Tata, one of India's most reputed and beloved industrialist, an era has ended and now the focus has shifted to potential contenders for the position of chairman of Tata Trusts. One among them is Noel Tata, son of Naval H. Tata and Simone N. Tata, and half-brother to Ratan Tata. Noel Tata and Ratan Tata are sons of Naval H. Tata but their mothers were different. 

While Ratan Tata and Jimmy Tata are sons of Sooni Commissariat, Noel Tata is the son of Naval’s second wife Simone Dunoyer. Since Ratan Tata did not name a successor, the final decision on the new chairman will be taken by Trusts’ boards.

What Business Does Noel Tata Run?

Noel currently serves as the chairman of Trent, Tata International Limited, Voltas & Tata Investment Corporation. He has a 40-year-old association with the Tata group. Notably, Trent is the retail company of Tata Group which runs the popular Indian clothing brand Westside and bookstore Landmark.

Additionally, Noel Tata is also the vice chairman of Tata Steel and Titan Company, which is the maker of watches, jewellery, and eyewear. The famous brands Titan, Titan Eye, Tanishq, and Fastrack fall under the Titan Company.

Noel also serves as a trustee on the board of Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. While serving as managing director of Tata International Limited, the trading and distribution wing of the Tata Group, he led the the company exponential growth from a $500 million turnover to over $3 billion in the period between August 2010 and November 2021. From a one-store operation in 1998 to over 500 stores across formats today, Noel Tata served as Managing Director of Trent Limited for more than 11 years before joining Tata International.

Noel Tata's Education

Noel Tata received education from prominent universities both in India and overseas. He graduated from Sussex University in the United Kingdom after pursuing his higher studies. Such exposure in academics provided him with a strong base in business and management principles, preparing him for his future endeavours. After graduating, he pursued the International Executive Programme at INSEAD in France, which sharpened his leadership and strategic thinking skills.

What's Noel Tata's Relation with Cyrus Mistry?

It is to be noted that Noel is married to Aloo Mistry, sister of former Tata Group chairman Cyrus Mistry who died in a horrific car crash. Noel Tata is also the brother-in-law of Rohiqa Mistry, who is the second richest woman in India.

What's Noel Tata Net Worth?

However, the exact net worth of Noel Tata is not known but it is estimated to be around USD 1.5 billion ( Rs 12,366 crore in Indian currency). Meanwhile, Westside’s parent company Tent had a net profit of over Rs 554 crore last financial year.