Ratan Tata dies at age 86 in Mumbai
India’s iconic business leader was world-renowned
Ratan N. Tata, the widely respected chairman emeritus of India’s mighty Tata Group, passed away in Mumbai on October 9, 2024, at the age of 86.
He had been admitted to the intensive care unit at Breach Candy Hospital in India’s commercial capital on October 7, 2024, for what he termed routine medical tests due to his advanced age and related medical conditions.
He served as chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, from 1991 until his retirement on December 28, 2012. Since December 29, 2012, he held the honorary title of chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, Tata Industries, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, and Tata Chemicals. His business experience and knowledge guided and inspired the group and its various companies.
Under his transformative leadership, Tata companies—including Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Power, Tata Global Beverages, Tata Chemicals, Indian Hotels, and Tata Teleservices—saw revenues soar to over $100 billion in 2011-12.
The Tata Group, one of the world’s biggest conglomerates, recorded revenues of $165 billion in 2023-2024, a testament to his visionary leadership.
International reputation
Tata’s influence extended beyond India. He was a member of the international advisory boards of JP Morgan Chase and Mitsubishi Corporation. He chaired the Tata Trusts, one of India’s oldest philanthropic organisations focused on community development, earning recognition on the global stage.
He also led the Council of Management at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and was on the boards of trustees for Cornell University and the University of Southern California.
After joining the Tata Group in 1962, Tata was appointed director-in-charge of the National Radio & Electronics Company Limited in 1971. He became chairman of Tata Industries in 1981, transforming it into a strategic think tank for new high-tech ventures.
His innovative strategies and forward-thinking approach were pivotal in the Tata Group’s transformation from a traditional business conglomerate to a global leader in high-tech ventures. He famously acquired debt-ridden Air India from the Indian government. The airline was launched by the Tata family in 1932.
His academic achievements were equally impressive. He held a B.Arch. degree from Cornell and completed the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School in 1975, a testament to his commitment to learning and growth.
In 2008, Tata was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, and received the Rockefeller Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
He was also an honorary fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Royal Academy of Engineering and received numerous honorary doctorates from universities worldwide.
A Parsi by faith, Tata is credited with turning a little-known Indian company into one of the world’s most diversified conglomerates, with interests ranging from civil aviation to automotive manufacturing.
Featured image: Ratan. N. Tata was instrumental in making the Tata Group a global leader in high-tech ventures. Credit: Tata Group
Last Updated on 2 months by Arnold Pinto
