Tata Group bought Air India in January 2022. It was India’s first major privatisation of a government company in two decades.

Other major acquisitions: Bhushan Steel, BigBasket, 1mg, Air Asia India, and Vistara

Tata Electronics set up a semiconductor fabrication facility at Dholera (Gujarat and assembly units in Karnataka and Assam.

Setting up of Agratas, which owns gigafactories making batteries for electric vehicles in India and the UK.

Tata Tech IPO: The stock listed at 140% premium in 2023

The launch of Tata Neu, a super app for online consumers of Tata brands.

The listing of Tata Capital in 2025.

Tata Trusts’ lawyers are meeting with the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner, sources said. The meeting is expected to decide on the board meeting scheduled for tomorrow.

IiAS, speaking to CNBC-TV18, said N Chandrasekaran’s resignation is surprising but not unexpected. It said the move will not bring any immediate disruption to the functioning of the Tata Group, but raises governance questions around the alignment of Tata Sons.

Shailesh Haribhakti, Chairman of Shailesh Haribhakti Associates, said N Chandrasekaran is being a thorough professional by choosing to step down at this point. He said age should not be a factor in choosing a leader in today’s world.

Haribhakti said the right leader should be someone best suited to lead the Tata Group and help double the net worth of the $180 billion group.

Systematix, speaking to CNBC-TV18, said N Chandrasekaran’s decision to step down is coming at the right time and expects business as usual for Tata companies, other than TCS.

TCS is already facing AI headwinds, and the brokerage said it will be monitoring leadership changes as well as the impact of AI on the company.

Vikas Khemani of Carnelian Asset Management told CNBC-TV18 that while there is some uncertainty over who will succeed N Chandrasekaran, the Tata Group has navigated several structural transitions in the past and will adapt to this one as well.

N Chandrasekaran said he has completed 40 years of professional life at the Tata Group and described leading Tata Sons over the past decade as a great honour and profound responsibility. His current tenure as Chairman of Tata Sons ends on February 20, 2027.

He said the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust had unanimously recommended extending his next term by five years, a proposal that was also recorded and recommended by the Tata Sons Nomination and Remuneration Committee and the Board. However, the proposal was not carried through after one Board member did not support it, and Chandrasekaran chose to defer the decision in the absence of unanimous support.

Full text of Tata Sons Chairman’s letter to the Board

Shailesh Haribhakti, Chairman of Shailesh Haribhakti Associates, said he believes Tata Group will continue to succeed irrespective of changes in leadership. He said the focus now should be on identifying a successor who is most competent to take the group forward and drive its growth.

Gurmeet Chadha, Managing Partner & CIO, Complete Circle, said the news is negative, but there is no need to panic. He expects near-term stock reactions to remain negative, while noting that most Tata companies have already been underperforming in the market, with Tata Motors and TCPL being exceptions.

Chadha said it would be better for the next Tata Sons chairman to be someone internal from the Tata Group.

Shriram Subramanian, Founder & MD of InGovern Research Services, said the decision is surprising and comes amid some friction over Chandrasekaran’s term at Tata Sons. He said a five-year extension had been sought, but the age factor had to be considered as the group has a policy of retiring executives at 65.

Subramanian said there will be no impact on group companies as the listed companies have strong management teams. Shareholders of listed Tata companies, he said, do not need to be worried.

He expects the next Tata Sons chairman could be an insider and does not think a listing of Tata Sons is on the cards, noting that Noel Tata does not wish for Tata Sons to be listed.

The Tata Sons Board would need to meet immediately and announce a successor, Subramanian said, adding that the faster the successor is announced, the better it would be for stability. He also said there is no need to change the retirement age for executive directors.

Tata Group stocks sold off on Wednesday, August 12, after Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said he would not seek reappointment when his term ends in February 2027. TCS shares fell over 4%, while Tata Steel, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Indian Hotels declined 1.5%-3%. TCS remains the Tata Group’s largest listed company, accounting for over a third of Tata Sons’ overall market capitalisation of just over ₹25 lakh crore.

N Chandrasekaran has informed the Tata Sons Board that he will not seek reappointment when his current term ends on February 20, 2027. He has asked the Board to decide on his succession soon to ensure a proper transition.