Mehli Mistry out; Noel Tata gains control of Tata Trusts
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Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata and Mehli Mistry, whose bid for the re-appointment as permanent trustee of Tata Trusts was blocked.
Mehli Mistry out; Noel Tata gains control of Tata Trusts
Noel Tata has solidified his control over Tata Trusts by blocking Mehli Mistry's re-appointment as a trustee. Supported by key trustees, Tata's leadership is now unchallenged, marking a significant shift in the Trusts' dynamics. This move strengthens his influence over the Tata Group, despite potential legal challenges from Mistry.
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Mehli Mistry's ouster from Tata Trusts marks a consolidation of power for Noel Tata, who, with key trustee support, has blocked Mistry's re-appointment. This development enhances Tata's control over the Trusts and the Tata Group, despite possible legal challenges from Mistry.
Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata and Mehli Mistry, whose bid for the re-appointment as permanent trustee of Tata Trusts was blocked.
The team of Noel Tata blocked the re-appointment of Mehli Mistry as a permanent trustee of Tata Trusts, following a series of objections to the proposals of Noel Tata. Sources confirmed that three of the six trustees — chairman Noel Tata, vice chairman Venu Srinivasan, and Vijay Singh — opposed the renewal of Mehli Mistry’s term on the boards of the key trusts, including the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust.
There were enough dissenting votes to block Mistry from continuing as a trustee, said sources. This outcome marks a clear shift, indicating that the opposition against Noel Tata will cease to exist in the Trusts going forward. But it is not clear about the possibilities of how Mistry can wage a legal battle in this matter.
Mistry, once considered a trusted lieutenant of the late Ratan Tata and an influential trustee, has been denied continuation as he challenged a few of the decisions of Noel Tata, who wanted the continuation of Vijay Singh on the board of Tata Sons. Eventually, Singh was voted out of becoming a Tata Sons board member.
Tata Trusts is the key shareholder in the holding company with roughly a 66% stake. The Trusts get their funds for philanthropic activities from Tata Sons as dividends. The Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group is the largest minority shareholder with an 18.37% stake.
The leadership and trustee appointment decisions within the Trusts reverberate across the Tata group companies, as the nominees of the Trusts hold veto power in the decisions of the Tata Sons board. The vote blocking Mistry underscores how Noel’s leadership is now backed by a decisive grouping within the Trusts.
Tensions had been rising in the Trusts since the appointment of Noel Tata as its chairman, following the demise of Ratan Tata. It was Pramit Jhaveri, Darius Khambata, and Jehangir HC Jehangir who sided with Mehli Mistry in disapproving of what Noel Tata wanted to take forward. In late October 2025, Mistry reportedly issued a conditional approval for the re-appointment of trustee Venu Srinivasan, signalling friction within the board.
The ouster of Mistry has reinforced Noel Tata’s position at the helm of the Trusts, giving him a firmer grip over the philanthropic and strategic capital of the Tata empire, besides influencing major decisions of Tata Group companies.