All eyes are on October 28, when Tata Trusts decides on the reappointment of trustee Mehli Mistry to the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT), which together hold 51% in Tata Sons. The decision has split the Trusts into two factions. On one side are Noel Tata, Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh— they are opposed to Mistry’s term renewal. The other—comprising Darius Khambata, Pramit Jhaveri and Jehangir HC Jehangir— is backing Mistry. A resolution for his reappointment was moved by the CEO of the trusts, Siddharth Sharma. Mistry, a longtime Ratan Tata confidant, further stirred tensions by giving conditional approval for Srinivasan’s reappointment, triggering a legal debate. A look at the trustees who will decide the matter
VIJAY SINGH 77
Vice Chairman, Tata Trusts; Retired IAS
The career Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer joined the Tata leadership circle in 2013, becoming the first non-family trustee. That signalled a shift from purely family dominated governance toward a more professional institution under Ratan Tata’s watch. He had joined IAS in 1970 and held state and central government posts, including that of Madhya Pradesh chief secretary and Union defence secretary and secretary in road transport and highways ministry. He was appointed VC of Tata Trusts in December 2018. He served on Tata Sons board as a nominee director and trust representative, before stepping down last month.
MEHLI MISTRY 65
Trustee, SDTT and SRTT; Director, M Pallonji Group
Mehli Mistry, first cousin of late Cyrus Mistry, holds a powerful yet contentious position within Tata Trusts. A long-time confidant and neighbour of Ratan Tata, he served on RNT Associates and was a beneficiary of Tata’s will. Elevated in 2022 as a trustee of Sir Dorabji and Sir Ratan Tata Trusts, he gained influence on their executive committees. Seen as a key player in internal power dynamics, including Vijay Singh’s departure, he leads the faction seen as challenging Noel Tata’s authority. Once accused, though he denied it, of benefiting from Tata Power contracts, Mistry is a polarising force in the Tata governance ecosystem.
DARIUS KHAMBATA 55
Trustee, SDTT and SRTT; Senior Lawyer
One of India’s most respected legal minds, he has recently drawn attention for siding with trustee Mehli Mistry in opposing chairman Noel Tata on governance issues within Tata Trusts. A senior advocate at Bombay HC and former advocate general of Maharashtra, Khambata is known for his clarity, fairness and refusal to mould legal reasoning to suit convenience. A graduate of Mumbai University and Harvard Law School, he has argued landmark cases, including the Yes Bank board dispute. Appointed trustee in 2015 and executor of Ratan Tata’s will, his influence runs well beyond the courtroom. Whether defending complex constitutional issues or navigating delicate boardroom divides, he remains one of India’s most formidable minds—a lawyer who continues to shape, and occasionally shake, the institutions he serves.
NOEL TATA 69
Chairman, Tata Trusts
Born to Naval and Simone Tata, Noel Tata was appointed chairman of Tata Trusts after the demise of his half-brother Ratan Tata. These Trusts control two-thirds of Tata Sons, the Tata Group’s holding company. He’s known for his low-profile, steady leadership and focus on international and retail ventures. That’s in contrast with Ratan Tata’s more prominent public presence, marked by high visibility and media involvement.
Over four decades, he has led Tata International and Trent. The latter is a Rs 2.85 lakh crore retail powerhouse while Tata International’s turnover has risen six-fold. Educated at the University of Sussex and Insead, Noel combines quiet professionalism with strategic depth. He’s married to Aloo Mistry of the family that runs the Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group, which owns 18% of Tata Sons. The late Cyrus Mistry, ousted as chairman of Tata Sons in 2016, was her brother.
VENU SRINIVASAN 72,
Vice Chairman, Tata Trusts; Chairman Emeritus, TVS Motor
Srinivasan recently drew attention for opposing the nomination of Mehli Mistry to Tata Sons after Vijay Singh’s exit. The chairman emeritus of TVS Motor Company and chairman of Sundaram Clayton is an elder statesman of Indian industry. An engineer with an MBA from Purdue University, he was invited by Ratan Tata to join the Tata Sons board in October 2016, just before Cyrus Mistry’s ouster. In December 2018, Srinivasan and Singh became vice-chairmen of Tata Trusts. Known for his quiet authority and corporate acumen, Srinivasan has played a steady hand in the Trusts’ complex governance and succession landscape.
PRAMIT JHAVERI 65
Trustee, SDTT; Former CEO, Citi India
Jhaveri brings financial and governance discipline to Tata Trusts. An alumnus of the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School, he led Citibank India for nearly a decade, steering it through regulatory reforms and an unpredictable credit cycle. After retiring, he joined several company boards, including Bajaj Finance and Larsen & Toubro, and advised PJT Partners. Appointed trustee of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust in 2020, his selection indicated a move toward greater professionalisation within the Trusts. His capital markets expertise helps balance philanthropy with longterm corporate goals and sustainability.
JEHANGIR HIRJI C JEHANGIR 72
Trustee, Sir Ratan Tata Trust; Chairman, Cowasjee Jehangir Trading Co
A scion of Pune’s illustrious Jehangir family, he’s carried forward a legacy of healthcare and philanthropy dating back to 1946, when Jehangir Hospital was founded in memory of his late uncle. He started his career at Nelco and served as executive assistant to Ratan Tata. He currently chairs Cowasjee Jehangir Trading Co and Jehangir Clinical Development Centre, and also serves as a trustee of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust. Known for combining legacy stewardship with corporate and philanthropic oversight, he plays a quiet but influential role in India’s social-enterprise space and shaping healthcare initiatives.
VIJAY SINGH 77
Vice Chairman, Tata Trusts; Retired IAS
The career Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer joined the Tata leadership circle in 2013, becoming the first non-family trustee. That signalled a shift from purely family dominated governance toward a more professional institution under Ratan Tata’s watch. He had joined IAS in 1970 and held state and central government posts, including that of Madhya Pradesh chief secretary and Union defence secretary and secretary in road transport and highways ministry. He was appointed VC of Tata Trusts in December 2018. He served on Tata Sons board as a nominee director and trust representative, before stepping down last month.
MEHLI MISTRY 65
Trustee, SDTT and SRTT; Director, M Pallonji Group
Mehli Mistry, first cousin of late Cyrus Mistry, holds a powerful yet contentious position within Tata Trusts. A long-time confidant and neighbour of Ratan Tata, he served on RNT Associates and was a beneficiary of Tata’s will. Elevated in 2022 as a trustee of Sir Dorabji and Sir Ratan Tata Trusts, he gained influence on their executive committees. Seen as a key player in internal power dynamics, including Vijay Singh’s departure, he leads the faction seen as challenging Noel Tata’s authority. Once accused, though he denied it, of benefiting from Tata Power contracts, Mistry is a polarising force in the Tata governance ecosystem.
DARIUS KHAMBATA 55
Trustee, SDTT and SRTT; Senior Lawyer
One of India’s most respected legal minds, he has recently drawn attention for siding with trustee Mehli Mistry in opposing chairman Noel Tata on governance issues within Tata Trusts. A senior advocate at Bombay HC and former advocate general of Maharashtra, Khambata is known for his clarity, fairness and refusal to mould legal reasoning to suit convenience. A graduate of Mumbai University and Harvard Law School, he has argued landmark cases, including the Yes Bank board dispute. Appointed trustee in 2015 and executor of Ratan Tata’s will, his influence runs well beyond the courtroom. Whether defending complex constitutional issues or navigating delicate boardroom divides, he remains one of India’s most formidable minds—a lawyer who continues to shape, and occasionally shake, the institutions he serves.
NOEL TATA 69
Chairman, Tata Trusts
Born to Naval and Simone Tata, Noel Tata was appointed chairman of Tata Trusts after the demise of his half-brother Ratan Tata. These Trusts control two-thirds of Tata Sons, the Tata Group’s holding company. He’s known for his low-profile, steady leadership and focus on international and retail ventures. That’s in contrast with Ratan Tata’s more prominent public presence, marked by high visibility and media involvement.
Over four decades, he has led Tata International and Trent. The latter is a Rs 2.85 lakh crore retail powerhouse while Tata International’s turnover has risen six-fold. Educated at the University of Sussex and Insead, Noel combines quiet professionalism with strategic depth. He’s married to Aloo Mistry of the family that runs the Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group, which owns 18% of Tata Sons. The late Cyrus Mistry, ousted as chairman of Tata Sons in 2016, was her brother.
VENU SRINIVASAN 72,
Vice Chairman, Tata Trusts; Chairman Emeritus, TVS Motor
Srinivasan recently drew attention for opposing the nomination of Mehli Mistry to Tata Sons after Vijay Singh’s exit. The chairman emeritus of TVS Motor Company and chairman of Sundaram Clayton is an elder statesman of Indian industry. An engineer with an MBA from Purdue University, he was invited by Ratan Tata to join the Tata Sons board in October 2016, just before Cyrus Mistry’s ouster. In December 2018, Srinivasan and Singh became vice-chairmen of Tata Trusts. Known for his quiet authority and corporate acumen, Srinivasan has played a steady hand in the Trusts’ complex governance and succession landscape.
PRAMIT JHAVERI 65
Trustee, SDTT; Former CEO, Citi India
Jhaveri brings financial and governance discipline to Tata Trusts. An alumnus of the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School, he led Citibank India for nearly a decade, steering it through regulatory reforms and an unpredictable credit cycle. After retiring, he joined several company boards, including Bajaj Finance and Larsen & Toubro, and advised PJT Partners. Appointed trustee of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust in 2020, his selection indicated a move toward greater professionalisation within the Trusts. His capital markets expertise helps balance philanthropy with longterm corporate goals and sustainability.
JEHANGIR HIRJI C JEHANGIR 72
Trustee, Sir Ratan Tata Trust; Chairman, Cowasjee Jehangir Trading Co
A scion of Pune’s illustrious Jehangir family, he’s carried forward a legacy of healthcare and philanthropy dating back to 1946, when Jehangir Hospital was founded in memory of his late uncle. He started his career at Nelco and served as executive assistant to Ratan Tata. He currently chairs Cowasjee Jehangir Trading Co and Jehangir Clinical Development Centre, and also serves as a trustee of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust. Known for combining legacy stewardship with corporate and philanthropic oversight, he plays a quiet but influential role in India’s social-enterprise space and shaping healthcare initiatives.
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