The passing of Ratan Tata on Wednesday night has shifted attention to the future of Tata Trusts, with his half-brother, Noel Tata, emerging as a key figure in the governance of the trusts that control the group’s holding companies.

In recent years, Noel has taken on increasingly important responsibilities within Tata Trusts. He is currently a trustee of both the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust—two of the most influential entities under the Tata Trusts umbrella. These trusts not only manage the group’s philanthropic efforts but also control the majority stake in Tata Sons. His growing involvement in these trusts suggests that Noel is being groomed for a larger role in their governance, potentially leading Tata Trusts shortly.

Noel Tata’s career within the Tata Group began in the early 2000s, and by 2010-2011, he was appointed Managing Director of Tata International, the company responsible for overseeing the group’s overseas business. This move raised speculation that Noel was being groomed to succeed Ratan Tata as the head of the salt-to-software conglomerate. However, in 2011, the Tata Group named Cyrus Mistry—Noel’s brother-in-law—as the successor to Ratan Tata.

Mistry’s tenure was short-lived. In October 2016, he was removed from his position as chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group. Ratan Tata stepped in as interim chairman for four months until Natarajan Chandrasekaran was appointed as the chairman in 2017.

During this period, Noel’s role within the Tata Group continued to expand. In February 2019, he was inducted onto the board of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, one of the main trusts that hold significant influence over Tata Sons and the Tata Group. Noel also became vice chairman of Titan Company in 2018, and in March 2022, he was appointed vice chairman of Tata Steel, further solidifying his presence within the group.

These roles, coupled with his long-standing position as Chairman of Tata International and trustee of Tata Trusts, place Noel at the heart of the Tata Group’s leadership structure. As Chairman of Tata International, Noel oversees the group’s global business, including its presence in retail through Tata Trent, a unit of Tata Sons Ltd. Under his leadership, Tata Trent has undergone a remarkable transformation, with brands like Zudio—focused on affordable fashion—becoming household names and driving the growth of Tata Trent. This success has made the business a formidable player in India’s competitive retail market.

Tata Trusts, among the largest philanthropic organizations in India, hold a significant stake in Tata Sons, controlling over 66 percent of the shares in the holding company. This gives Tata Trusts considerable influence over the group’s decision-making and governance. As such, the leadership of Tata Trusts is not only crucial for its philanthropic efforts but also for shaping the future direction of Tata Sons and, by extension, the entire Tata Group. The successor to Ratan Tata at Tata Trusts will need to balance the organization’s philanthropic mission with the governance needs of a global conglomerate.

Noel Tata is known for his relatively low-profile leadership style, a stark contrast to the more public-facing role that Ratan Tata held. While Ratan Tata’s leadership was characterized by visibility and media engagement, Noel has generally remained out of the limelight, focusing instead on the group’s international operations and retail businesses.

Noel’s personal life also ties him closely to the Tata Group. He is married to Aloo Mistry, the daughter of Pallonji Mistry, who was the largest individual shareholder in Tata Sons, giving Noel additional influence within the Tata Group’s structure. This connection has further solidified his role as a key figure in the group’s governance.

Further bolstering the Tata family’s presence in the Trusts, Noel’s children, Leah (39), Maya (36), and Neville (32), have also been inducted as trustees of five prominent trusts, including affiliates of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust. These trusts, which manage both the charitable and significant financial interests of the Tata Group, are responsible for overseeing the group’s vast stake in Tata Sons. This makes their role within the Trusts not just symbolic but essential to shaping the group’s future governance.