Do you know which chairman of the Tata Group had the longest tenure? Here is the answer.
After the sad demise of the great philanthropist and business tycoon Ratan Tata, his half-brother Noel Tata was appointed as the new chairman of the Tata Trusts. Ratan Tata was not married and didn’t have any children who could look after his empire. Now, Noel and his children are overseeing the Tata Group. The Tata family is one of the most powerful and wealthiest business families in India. The family has contributed significantly to boosting the country’s economy after independence. In India, Tata is a synonym of trust, but this respect didn’t come overnight. The entire lineage of the Tata family worked hard to earn this respect and establish a brand that has become a part of the country. Do you know which chairman of the Tata Group had the longest tenure? Here is the answer.
Jamshedji Tata: 1868-1904
The journey of Tata Group began with Jamsetji N. Tata, who led the company from 1868 to 1904. During this period, Jamsetji established a trading company, followed by the launch of Empress Mills and the famous IHCL Hotels.
Dorabji Tata: 1904-1932
Dorabji Tata was the son of Jamshedji Tata and Hirabai Daboo. He was a great industrialist and philanthropist of the British Raj. Dorab Tata, stepped into his father, Jamsetji Tata’s shoes quite effectively. He not only made Tata Group a major player in the industrial field but also showcased his commitment to sports and philanthropy, espousing values treasured by his father and founder of the Group. He started Tata Steel, Tata Power, Tata Oil Mills, Tata Trusts, sponsored India’s first Olympic team, and founded the Indian Institute of Science (IISC).
Darobji led the company from Tata from 1904 to 1932.
Nowroji Saklatvala: 1932-1938
Coming from a legacy deeply rooted in both Indian and international commerce, Sir Nowroji owed his lineage to a famously industrious family. His maternal connection to Sir Jamsetji Tata lent him an entryway into the world of industry. His early days, starting 1889, were marked by humble beginnings as an apprentice at a Tata mill where he earned a meagre Rs50 per month. However, his devotion, expertise and exceptional understanding of industrial processes didn’t go unnoticed for long. In no time, his supervisors identified his prowess and he was soon directing the mills department.
Sir Nowroji Saklatwala led Tata from 1932 to 1938. He founded the Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Tata Investment Corporation.
JRD Tata: 1938-1991
JRD Tata was the son of Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata and Suzanne RD Tata. JRD didn’t just establish Tata airlines back in 1932, marking his footprint in the Indian civil aviation sector, but his achievements list doesn’t stop there. His leadership spanned more than half a century, leading to countless notable accomplishments within the Tata group.
J.R.D. Tata led the company from 1938 to 1991, taking it to new heights. He founded companies like Air India, Tata Chemicals, Tata Memorial Centre, Tata Motors, Lakmé, Trent, Voltas, and Tata International.
JRD established around 16 companies, which includes TCS, Tata Projects, Tata Salt, Titan, Tata Housing, and Tata Elxsi.
Ratan Tata: 1991-2012
Ratan Tata was the son of Naval Tata and Sooni Tata. He respected past Chairman Emeritus, evolved from his initial phase of merely paving paths to becoming a compelling game-changer. Guiding the Tata Group into an era of innovation and transformation became his hallmark, all the while preserving his distinctive leadership style.
Raan led Tata from 1991 to 2012. During this time, he managed 18 prominent companies, some of which he also founded.
Ratan Tata launched brands like Tata Nano, Tata Play, Tata Motors, Tata Capital, Tata Advanced Systems, Tejas, and Tanishq.
Cyrus Mistry: 2012-2016
Cyrus Mistry served as the chairman of Tata from 2012 to 2016. During this time, he launched Vistara in India in 2015.
- Chandrasekaran: 2017 – Present
- Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata Group since 2017, has initiated new ventures like Tata Nexon EV, Tata Digital, Tata IPL, and BigBasket