Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indian billionaire Ratan Tata, the iconic leader of the Tata Group conglomerate, has passed away at the age of 86. Although he was the heir to one of India’s oldest business dynasties, Tata successfully expanded the family business into a global empire during his tenure as chairman.
Born in Mumbai on December 28, 1937, Ratan Tata was raised by his grandmother after his parents divorced when he was 10 years old. His father, Naval Tata, was adopted into the Tata family at the age of 13 by the widow of Jamsetji Tata, the founder of the Tata Group.
The announcement of Tata’s passing was made by Natarajan Chandrasekaran, the current Chairman of Tata Group, who hailed him as an extraordinary leader. Under Tata’s leadership, from 1991 onwards, the conglomerate rapidly expanded. Today, Tata Motors operates in over 100 countries, reporting revenues of $165 billion as of March 2024.
A Legacy of Global Expansion
Ratan Tata steered the 156-year-old Tata Group through various sectors, overseeing more than two dozen companies producing everything from cars and software to coffee and salt. He also expanded into airlines and introduced India’s first super-app. His company entered a joint venture with Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. to establish an $11 billion chip fabrication plant in India and was planning an iPhone assembly plant.
Tata also made landmark acquisitions abroad, including the British steelmaker Corus Group Plc in 2007 and luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover in 2008. His bold decisions transformed Tata into a global conglomerate, cementing his legacy as a visionary business leader.
Challenges and Crises
Taking the reins as chairman in 1991, Tata faced challenges from longstanding executives who had managed different factions within the group. His leadership was tested again in 2016, four years after his retirement, when a dispute erupted with his successor, Cyrus Mistry, who sought to reduce debt. Mistry was ousted in a boardroom coup, and Tata’s legacy was preserved.
Tata also navigated through personal and professional crises. In 2008, terrorists targeted the group’s flagship hotel, the Taj Mahal Palace, in Mumbai, killing 31 people, including 11 staff members. Tata personally visited the families of the victims, and a memorial now stands in the hotel to honor those who lost their lives.
Philanthropy and Legacy
Tata never married and had no children. His death leaves a leadership vacuum at Tata Trusts, the powerful philanthropic arm of the conglomerate, which holds about 66% of shares in Tata Sons, the group’s holding company.
In recent years, Tata supported startups like Ola Electric Mobility Ltd., set to go public in 2024, and Goodfellows, a platform promoting intergenerational friendships.
Early Life and Career
Educated at Cornell University, where he studied mechanical engineering, Tata initially aspired to settle in California but returned to India due to his grandmother’s poor health. He joined Tata Group at the urging of J.R.D. Tata, then Chairman of Tata Sons and a distant relative. Ratan Tata started his career in 1962, working across various units of the company before assuming top leadership in 1991.
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Under his stewardship, Tata Group diversified its operations, particularly in the automotive sector. In 1998, the company launched Indica, India’s first locally produced passenger car. During the economic boom of the 2000s, Tata made bold moves, acquiring international companies such as Tetley, Corus, Jaguar Land Rover, and Daewoo’s commercial vehicle division.
Ratan Tata’s passing marks the end of an era for the Indian business world, but his contributions to global industry and philanthropy will endure for generations to come.
(Becky)
