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Tata Sons plans a board reshuffle, investing Rs 30,000 crore in emerging businesses. Ralf Speth and Ajay Piramal will depart, and Tata Steel CEO TV Narendran may join the board.
Tata Sons will pump Rs 30,000 crore ($3.5 billion) into emerging businesses like Tata Digital, Tata Electronics, Air India, defence, and battery operations.
Tata Sons is preparing for a significant reshuffle in its boardroom, signalling a generational shift and a renewed focus on growth priorities for the conglomerate. According to The Economic Times report, the company will be looking to appoint new directors as vacancies open up on the board of the Tata Group holding entity.
Focusing on future growth, Tata Sons will pump Rs 30,000 crore ($3.5 billion) into emerging businesses like Tata Digital, Tata Electronics, Air India, defence, and battery operations. The defence sector is singled out as a key strategic focus. This investment adds to the $120 billion already earmarked for new initiatives in recent years, according to the ET report.
Key Departures on the Horizon at Tata Group
Ralf Speth, the former Jaguar Land Rover CEO who joined the board in 2016 in the aftermath of Cyrus Mistry’s ouster, is expected to step down in the coming months upon reaching the retirement age of 70. Earlier in April, independent director Leo Puri also stepped down from the board. Another exit is anticipated next year, with veteran industrialist Ajay Piramal, 69, expected to retire mid-2025, in line with the company’s board-level age cap of 70.
T V Narendran Likely to Join Board
Tata Steel CEO and MD TV Narendran is seen as a strong internal contender to fill one of the vacant seats, according to the ET report. “There are very few senior Tata executives today with the depth of Narendran’s experience and leadership,” said a senior group executive, as per the report.
If appointed, Narendran’s elevation would mark a shift toward bringing proven business heads into Tata Sons’ core decision-making body.
Evolution From Ratan Tata’s 2016 Setup
These upcoming board changes mark a gradual evolution from the structure instituted by former chairman Ratan Tata after Cyrus Mistry’s dramatic exit. While several earlier appointees are moving on due to age limits, others like Harish Bhat and Banmali Agrawala continue in advisory or leadership roles within specific group businesses.
Notably, the retirement rule does not apply to nominees from Tata Trusts. These include Noel Tata, Vijay Singh (76), and Venu Srinivasan (72), who continue to retain their seats. Independent directors Harish Manwani and Anita M. George remain on the board, with Manwani set to continue till 2027.
Move to Maintain Private Holding
In a related development, Tata Sons has voluntarily applied to surrender its NBFC licence with the RBI after repaying over Rs 20,000 crore in debt. The move is aimed at retaining its structure as a privately held, unlisted entity — a strategic decision aligned with long-term governance and control considerations.
A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al…Read More
A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al… Read More
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