Ratan Tata

Chairman, Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Allied Trusts

Birth DetailsDecember 28, 1937 | Mumbai, India

NationalityIndian

LeagueBusiness Leader

EducationBachelor of Science, Cornell University; AMP, Harvard Business School

Ratan Tata's Journey so far ...

Ratan Naval Tata studied architecture and structural engineering in New York's Cornell University, and completed his Bachelor of Science degree in 1962. He joined the Tata Group later that year after a brief stint with Jones and Emmons in Los Angeles
After working in various group companies, including TELCO (now Tata Motors) and TISCO (now Tata Steel), he was appointed as the chairman of Tata Industries in 1981. He eventually went on to become the group's fifth chairman in 1991, succeeding his uncle J.R.D. Tata.
In his tenure, Ratan Tata restructured the group as he slashed the number of companies in the group from over 300, and bought new businesses with growth potential
Under his chairmanship, various group companies of Tata Sons went on to generate huge revenues and he turned the salt to software conglomerate into a $100 billion group
Ratan Tata also steered the conglomerate’s overseas expansion deftly as various Tata Group companies acquired big global brands
In 2000, the UK-based Tetley was acquired by Tata Tea (now Tata Consumer Products Limited) for $407 million and is now sold in over 40 countries.
Ratan Tata helped Tata Motors in acquiring Daewoo Commercial Vehicles for $102 million in 2004. It was then the largest Indian takeover in Korea
In the biggest-ever foreign takeover by an Indian company, he led Tata Steel to acquire the Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus in 2007 for $12.2 billion. The deal catapulted the brand into becoming the world's fifth-largest steelmaker
A year later, Tata Motors acquired two quintessential British cars Jaguar, and Land Rover - from Ford for $2.3 billion. Tata himself was directly involved in the turnaround plan of the company, and by 2017, JLR’s revenue topped $34 billion
In a path-breaking move, Ratan Tata launched Nano at the Auto Expo in 2008. Dubbed as the cheapest car, Nano took Tata Motors to the world stage making it a case study in many business schools
At the age of 75, Ratan Tata stepped down in December 2012 after completing 50 years in the group. He came back briefly for two-and-a-half months in 2016 after Tata Sons sacked Cyrus Mistry and before N Chandrasekaran was appointed as Chairman.
His post-retirement investment includes buying stakes in over a dozen startups. He also continues to be involved with the Tata Trust, the charitable organisation of the Tata group founders which focuses on tackling child malnutrition, healthcare, literacy and social justice

Before you go ...

Ratan Tata has received numerous honorary degrees as well as the Government of India's second and third highest civilian awards: the Padma Vibhushan in 2008 and the Padma Bhushan in 2000
He holds a licence for flying and is a trained pilot. He is the first civilian to fly an F-16
He was inspired to launch the Nano when he saw a family of four on a motorcycle trying to navigate their way as heavy rains lashed Mumbai. The sight of the kids being sandwiched between the mother and father, provoked him to experiment with an option that would be heavily subsidised and yet safe

Last Updated: 15/02/2021

Ratan Tata News

My clean image will draw people towards BJP: E Sreedharan, Ex Delhi Metro chiefHis joining the BJP, he said, will motivate a large number of others to also follow in his footsteps and join the party. “I enjoy a clean image and that might inspire people who know me to join me,” Sreedharan said.
Ratan Tata-backed AI startup Niki says revenue grew by 1,000% in 2020Niki served more than 1.5 million users through its app last year and average spends are increasing considerably, says Sachin Jaiswal, CEO of the Ratan Tata-based AI startup.
Day after, Ratan Tata has a request for Twitterati on Bharat Ratna campaignAs the clamour on Twitter grew, the man himself stepped in to hit pause on the campaign.
Call for Bharat Ratna award: Ratan Tata requests people to stop social media campaignThe Chairman Emeritus of the over USD 100 billion conglomerate Tata group asked social media users to stop the campaign that asked the government to confer on him the highest civilian award of the country.
Business tycoons pledge support to Kerala to build a modern economyRatan Tata, Chairperson of Tata Trusts, said Kerala's industrial development may not have been as aggressive as elsewhere in India in the past due to the desire to keep the state beautiful.
Tata Steel’s bleeding UK unit yet to find reliefA meeting planned between UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Tata Sons chairman emeritus Ratan Tata and chairman N Chandrasekaran this month was dropped after Johnson cancelled his visit to India for the Republic Day celebrations.
Niki plans to raise $50M as it thrives in an untapped Bharat market with a formidable habit creation
The Ratan behind the Tata VaultWe get to know that Tata’s favourite New York restaurant is Cipriani, with ‘its 80s Hollywood vibe hanging heavy in a room full of old money and legacy’. His shopping stops in NYC are Macy’s for household linen and duffel bags; Brooks Brothers for his trademark shirts without a pocket; a pet shop for his beloved dogs Tango’s and the late Tito’s favourite baseball-shaped toys.
Tata-Mistry row: Tax tribunal suo moto junks negative remarks on Cyrus MistryIn the two-page corrigendum, the tribunal says, the error happened as para 37 in the first order had to be numbered as 47 on page 60. Accordingly, para 37 stands now substituted as 47 and all remaining paras are renumbered as 48 to 67, instead of 38 to 57.
Ratan Tata turns 83, Harsh Goenka, Sanjay Jumaani hail 'role model’ who inspired millionsOver 65% of Tata’s shares are invested in charitable trusts.
ITAT quashes revised assessment order passed by tax department against three Tata trustsThe order is a win for Tata Trusts in its battle to retain tax exempt status and the tribunals’ observations on share ownership are likely to influence a similar case where the trusts are challenging another tax department order cancelling their registrations.
Ratan Tata on the 4 things India needs to keep in mind as it enters 2021Whether we find an effective vaccine or not, I am hopeful that we will eventually find some cure that will reduce the intensity of this pandemic. But it will be imperative for all of us to learn not to take this pandemic for granted.
Ratan Tata honoured with 'Global Visionary of Sustainable Business and Peace' awardVeteran industrialist Ratan Tata was conferred the title of "Global Visionary of Sustainable Business and Peace" by the Federation of Indo-Israel Chambers of Commerce (FIICC) for epitomising "unity, peace and sustainability".
'Why India' to 'Why Not India': Modi on change his reforms have broughtSpeaking at industry association Assocham's Foundation Week event, Modi also said agriculture reforms brought by his government six months back have started benefiting farmers.
Ratan Tata to be honoured with 'Global Visionary of Sustainable Business and Peace' awardThe chairman emeritus of the Tata group will be honoured with 'Global Visionary of Sustainable Business and Peace' award during the launch of the Federation of Indo-Israel Chamber of Commerce's international chapter in Dubai on December 21.
Supreme Court reserves judgement in Tata-Mistry caseDuring the hearing conducted through video-conferencing, Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group claimed that there was breach of Articles of Association and provisions of the Companies Act in the removal of Cyrus Mistry as the chairman of Tata Sons in October 2016.
Tata Sons not a family-run venture to be led only by a Tata: SP GroupShapoorji Pallonji Group told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that Tata Sons was not a family-run enterprise to be headed only by a Tata and emphasised that to end oppression of minority stakeholders in the corporate giant controlled by Tata Trusts, Cyrus Mistry needed to be appointed as a director on the company’s board.
Tata rejects Mistrys’ share-swap separation offer as ‘nonsense’“It’s nonsense. This kind of relief cannot be granted,” Tata’s lawyer Harish Salve said during a hearing before India’s Supreme Court on Thursday. “I’m opposing it,” he said, arguing on behalf of the largest Indian conglomerate.
Tatas counters in SC claims of mismanagement, says SP Group valuation roseThe Tata firms told the top court that unless the losses were so enormous and there was a lack of probity which left no other option but to remove the majority shareholders of the company, the NCLAT could not have reached the conclusion including that of restoring Cyrus Mistry as executive chairman.
Failure of some projects is not oppression of minority shareholder, Tata Sons tells SCArguing against the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal's decision to reinstate ousted executive chairman Cyrus Mistry, Tata Sons lawyer Harish N Salve said on Tuesday that the ruling virtually handed over management of Tata Sons to a minority shareholder.
Tata-Mistry case: NCLAT cannot overrule shareholders to make Chairman appointment, argues Harish Salve in SCTata Sons and Mistry have challenged a December 18, 2019 order of National Company Law Appellate Tribunal which had ordered the reinstatement of Cyrus Mistry as the Chairperson of Tata Sons Limited.
Tata at crossroads as its fledgling airlines, AirAsia India and Vistara, reach critical junctureTata’s airline predicament isn’t unique. Warren Buffett exited his positions in all airline stocks earlier this year saying the pandemic may have fundamentally changed the business. And Richard Branson once famously said, “If you want to be a millionaire, start with a billion dollars and launch a new airline.”
Kohli defined vision for 'outstandingly successful' TCS: Ratan TataIT industry doyen Faqir Chand Kohli, the founding chief executive of Tata Consultancy Services, died Thursday afternoon.
Ratan Tata lauds spirit of Mumbai on 12th anniversary of 26/11 attacks, pens heartfelt note for those who lost their livesTata, through his brief yet powerful note, saluted the courage of Mumbaikars.
Ratan Tata had a 'paw'some Diwali, spent his day petting adopted furry-friendsThe philanthropist also shared the story behind naming one of the pooches 'Goa'.
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