Did a trustee lobby for Tata Trusts chairmanship after Ratan Tata’s demise?

Did a senior trustee seek to position himself for the chairmanship of Tata Trusts following Ratan Tata’s death in October 2024? Questions are emerging over the events leading up to Noel Tata’s appointment. While the appointment was unanimous, according to the records, sources indicate that there were contenders within the trusts.

According to people familiar with the developments, a couple of senior trustees approached fellow trustees soon after Ratan Tata’s death, proposing one of them as a potential candidate for the chairmanship. “A few trustees also gathered over dinner to discuss the matter,” said a source in the know.

Before Noel’s appointment, one senior trustee was keen to become chairman himself rather than have Noel take over, another source said. The trustee also cited the allegedly strained relationship between Ratan Tata and Noel to argue against the latter’s appointment. The argument referred to the 2022 amendment to the Articles of Association (AoA), which separated the roles of chairman of Tata Trusts and Tata Sons, preventing the same person from holding both positions, said a couple of sources.

These developments assume significance in the light of senior lawyer Darius Khambata’s recent letter to Noel Tata and Tata Trusts CEO Siddharth Sharma. Khambata, who has decided not to seek reappointment as a trustee, referred to the pressure to defer Noel’s appointment.

“I’m glad that Mehli proposed and I seconded Noel’s appointment as chairman in October 2024, despite pressure to defer,” Khambata wrote. He was referring to the proposal moved by fellow trustee Mehli Mistry, which he seconded. Khambata had also proposed the appointment of Neville Tata, Noel’s son, as a trustee of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) in November 2025.

Khambata’s remarks offer a glimpse into the differences among trustees during the leadership transition following Ratan Tata’s death. Noel eventually took charge of Tata Trusts, which collectively hold 66% of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group.

Khambata’s decision not to seek another term follows the likelihood of his reappointment failing to secure unanimity, with dissenting trustees Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh unlikely to support him. His exit, however, is unlikely to alter the power structure in the immediate future. It nevertheless removes an influential voice from Noel’s camp at a time when differences over governance are widening and complaints by Srinivasan and Singh are pending before the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner.

The SDTT has six trustees, including Khambata. Noel’s support has effectively narrowed to three, against two dissenters—Srinivasan and Singh. The appointments of Neville Tata and Bhaskar Bhat in November 2025 helped Noel retain his majority and maintain control of the trust.

At the Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT), where the Charity Commissioner has blocked the convening of board meetings, Srinivasan remains the lone dissenting voice. Noel enjoys the support of Jehangir H.C. Jehangir. His half-brother Jimmy Tata is also a trustee, though he rarely participates in key decisions.