Major Board Reshuffle at Tata Trusts
In a significant development at one of India's most influential philanthropic organizations, the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) has approved the induction of two new trustees - Neville Tata, son of Chairman Noel Tata, and Bhaskar Bhat, former Managing Director of Titan Company. This move comes just two weeks after Mehli Mistry's controversial exit from the Tata Trusts board.
The board unanimously approved these appointments during its first meeting following Mistry's departure, with both new trustees set to begin their three-year terms effective November 12, 2025. The timing and nature of these appointments signal a consolidation of influence by Noel Tata within the powerful Tata Trusts structure.
New Leadership and Strategic Appointments
In addition to the new trustee appointments, the SDTT board made another crucial decision, appointing TVS supremo Venu Srinivasan as trustee for a three-year period starting November 12, 2025. More significantly, Srinivasan has been designated as the Vice Chairman of SDTT, a move described as being in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
The nomination process revealed interesting dynamics within the board. Neville Tata's name was proposed by Darious Khambata, while Bhaskar Bhat's nomination came from former Defence Secretary Vijay Singh. The current SDTT board comprises notable figures including Noel N Tata, Venu Srinivasan, Vijay Singh, former Citi India CEO Pramit Jhaveri, and Darius Khambata.
Background and Significance of Appointments
The recent board changes follow the dramatic exit of Mehli Mistry, a close confidante of Ratan Tata, who parted ways with the Tata group on November 4. Mistry cited "precipitating matters would cause irreparable harm to the reputation of the Tata Trusts" as his reason for departure. His exit came when other trustees voted against his renomination proposal, following what sources describe as a tussle with Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata and other trustees.
The significance of these appointments cannot be overstated, given that Tata Trusts own 66% stake in Tata Sons, the principal holding company of the Tata group. Specifically, SDTT controls 28% stake in Tata Sons, while the Sir Ratan Tata Trust holds another 24%.
Bhaskar Bhat brings substantial experience to the role, 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, an alumnus of IIT Madras and IIM Ahmedabad, was instrumental in transforming India's watch industry and previously served on the board of Tata Sons.
Neville Tata, after graduating from Bayes Business School, has been building his business credentials within the Tata ecosystem. He joined Trent in 2016, the retail company founded by his grandmother Simone Tata and currently led by his father, Noel Tata. Neville initially managed operations for Zudio stores, contributing significantly to the brand's growth in west and south India. He currently heads Star Bazaar, the hypermarket division of Trent Ltd. Neville is married to Manasi Kirloskar, daughter of industrialist Vikram Kirloskar.
Industry observers note that these appointments are likely just the beginning of broader changes, with more additions expected in Tata Trusts during 2026 and 2027, further consolidating Noel Tata's influence. With Mistry's departure and the new board composition, analysts predict that calm and stability will return to India's leading business conglomerate, which commands a market capitalisation of $328 billion and generates revenues of $180 billion.
