Major Reshuffle at Tata Trusts as New Trustees Appointed
In a significant development that underscores shifting power dynamics within one of India's largest business conglomerates, the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) has welcomed two new members to its board of trustees. Neville Tata, son of current Chairman Noel Tata, and Bhaskar Bhat, the former Managing Director and CEO of Titan Company, have been unanimously approved as trustees with effect from November 12, 2025.
The appointments, approved for a three-year term, come just two weeks after the controversial exit of Mehli Mistry, who was voted out from the Tata Trusts board following a reported tussle with Chairman Noel Tata and other trustees. The new inductions are widely seen as Noel Tata consolidating his influence within the powerful Tata Trusts organization.
Key Appointments and Their Significance
The SDTT board meeting also resulted in another crucial appointment - TVS supremo Venu Srinivasan being designated as Vice Chairman of SDTT for a three-year period starting November 12, 2025. This move, described as being in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, adds further weight to the leadership structure.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Neville Tata's nomination was proposed by Darious Khambata, while Bhat's name was put forward by former Defence Secretary Vijay Singh. The current SDTT board includes prominent names such as Noel N Tata, Venu Srinivasan, Vijay Singh, former Citi India CEO Pramit Jhaveri, and Darius Khambata.
These appointments mark the first major board decisions following Mistry's departure on November 4. Mistry, known to be a close confidante of Ratan Tata, had expressed concerns that "precipitating matters would cause irreparable harm to the reputation of the Tata Trusts" upon his exit.
Profiles of the New Trustees
Bhaskar Bhat brings substantial corporate experience to the Trust, having served as Managing Director of Titan Company from April 2002 until his retirement on September 30, 2019. His remarkable 36-year journey with Titan began as a management trainee before he eventually took over as MD. Bhat is credited with transforming India's watch industry and previously served on the board of Tata Sons. He is an alumnus of both IIT Madras and IIM Ahmedabad.
Neville Tata, the younger generation representative, graduated from Bayes Business School and has been building his business credentials within the Tata ecosystem. In 2016, he joined Trent Limited - a company founded by his grandmother Simone Tata and currently led by his father Noel Tata. Neville initially managed operations for Zudio stores, Trent's fashion retail brand with significant presence in west and south India, where his strategic vision contributed substantially to the brand's growth. He currently heads Star Bazaar, the hypermarket division of Trent Ltd.
Neville is married to Manasi Kirloskar, daughter of industrialist Vikram Kirloskar, further strengthening business family connections.
Broader Implications for Tata Group
The Tata Trusts hold considerable influence over the Tata Group's operations, owning 66 percent stake in Tata Sons, the principal holding company of the entire conglomerate. Specifically, SDTT controls 28 percent stake in Tata Sons, while Sir Ratan Tata Trust holds another 24 percent.
Industry observers note that with Mistry's departure and these new appointments, calm and stability are expected to return to India's leading business house, which commands a massive market capitalisation of $328 billion and generates revenues of $180 billion.
Tata watchers predict that more additions to the Tata Trusts boards are likely in 2026 and 2027, further consolidating Noel Tata's leadership grip. The recent developments represent a significant chapter in the ongoing evolution of one of India's most storied business empires.
