Manasi Tata appointed director of Kirloskar JVs

Kirloskar Systems Pvt. Ltd. (KSPL) has announced the appointment of Manasi Tata as a director on the board of KSPL’s joint-venture companies. 

The company has announced that Manasi will serve as the director of key JVs including Toyota Industries Engine India Pvt. Ltd. (TIEI), Kirloskar Toyota Textile Machinery Pvt. Ltd. (KTTM), Toyota Material Handling India Pvt. Ltd. (TMHIN), and Denso Kirloskar Industries Pvt. Ltd. (DNKI), with immediate effect.

Manasi Tata’s appointment comes after the passing of her father, late Vikram Kirloskar, former chairman and managing director, KSPL. His wife, Geetanjali Kirloskar, has already taken charge as the new chairman and managing director at KSPL.

Manasi Tata, a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design in the US, is the only daughter of the late businessman. She's trained in Toyota manufacturing processes and the Japanese work culture. The fifth-generation Kirloskar scion has a passion for art and her NGO, “Caring with Colour”, works with government schools in 3 districts of Karnataka.

“Deeply intertwined with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns, Ms Manasi Tata is truly committed to take forward her father’s vision and dream, contributing towards accomplishing national goals and remains dedicated to keeping up the strength of partnership with various stakeholders, and the relationships that have grown stronger over the years," said KSPL in a statement.

Japanese auto behemoth Toyota Motor Corporation had entered India in 1997 via a JV with the Kirloskar group. Toyota Motor holds 89% stake in JV, while the rest is held by the Kirloskar group, which is based in Bidadi, Karnataka.

Vikram S Kirloskar passed away at the age of 64 on November 30, 2022. The face of Toyota in India, Vikram suffered a massive heart attack. Vikram was a fourth-generation scion of the famed Kirloskar family — whose lineage goes back to 1888. With TKM, Vikram virtually set up the automobile manufacturing industry in Karnataka. His efforts were recognised by the government, and he was felicitated with the "Suvarna Karnataka" award. In his lifetime, he developed at least 25 greenfield sites. 

Manasi married Neville, Noel Tata's son, in 2019. Noel is the half-brother of Ratan Tata from his father's side, and also a shareholder in the Tata group. Separately, the board of Tata Medical Centre Trust, a subsidiary of Tata Group, in November onboarded the three children of Noel Tata — Leah, Neville and Maya — to groom them for bigger roles in the company. The three next-gen members of the Tata Group will be groomed under the leadership of Ratan Tata. 

Tata Medical Centre Trust manages a cancer hospital in Kolkata, which was inaugurated by Ratan Tata in May 2011. With the induction of Leah, Neville and Maya, the number of board members in Tata Medical Centre Trust has been doubled to six board members.