Ratan Tata, the prominent Indian businessman, passed away at the age of 86, as announced by the Tata Group, which he led for over 20 years. Widely recognized as one of India’s most distinguished business figures, Tata was instrumental in making the Tata Group one of the nation’s largest conglomerates, with annual revenues surpassing $100 billion. The current chairman of Tata Sons, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, paid tribute to Tata, calling him a “truly uncommon leader” and expressing deep condolences to his family, noting that his legacy would continue to inspire the organization.
Throughout his leadership, Tata was known for high-profile acquisitions, including the purchase of the British steelmaker Corus, luxury car brands Jaguar and Land Rover, and the world’s second-largest tea company, Tetley. UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds described Tata as a “titan of the business world” who significantly influenced British industry. A 2011 profile in the Economist magazine referred to Tata as “the most powerful businessman in India and one of the most influential in the world,” highlighting his role in transforming the Tata Group into a global entity.
In 2012, Tata stepped down as chairman and became chairman emeritus of Tata Sons. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi honored him as a “visionary business leader” and recalled many memorable interactions with him, expressing profound sadness over his passing.
Born into a traditional Parsi family in 1937, Tata pursued studies in architecture and structural engineering at Cornell University in the United States. He began his career in 1962 at Tata Industries and subsequently contributed to multiple companies within the group, including Tata Steel and Tata Consultancy Services. In 1991, JRD Tata, who had led the group for over 50 years, chose Ratan Tata as his successor. Tata later reflected on JRD Tata’s impactful mentorship, considering him like family. In recognition of his contributions, the Indian government awarded him the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian award, in 2008.