Mumbai, India – N. Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata Sons who announced his exit from the position at the end of his tenure in February, will be remembered as the technocrat who gave a new direction to the Tata Group. Taking over the reins in 2017 under challenging circumstances, he steered the conglomerate into uncharted territories, making massive investments in semiconductors, electronics manufacturing, consumer Internet platforms, mobile technology, and battery giga-factories. He also expanded the group’s aviation presence through the bold acquisition of Air India, aiming to build a global airline out of India.
Chandrasekaran, who helmed Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for eight years before being selected to lead the group, was the natural choice to succeed Cyrus Mistry, who was ousted after a boardroom battle. As the first non-Parsi to lead the group, he had the complete backing of his mentor, Ratan Tata, until the latter’s death in October 2024. Under Chandrasekaran’s leadership, TCS became the country’s most valuable company. He is known for his “One Tata” strategy, which ensured synergy, simplicity, and scale across the conglomerate, driving its transformation toward a sustainable future.
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However, his tenure was not without challenges. He faced internal squabbles within Tata Trusts, which controls 66% of Tata Sons’ holding, and had to navigate the regime change following Noel Tata’s appointment as chairman of Tata Trusts after Ratan Tata’s passing. Chandrasekaran’s exit was reportedly due to a lack of clarity on his extension, with one board member, Noel Tata, not supporting his third five-year term. He also had to address losses at several group companies, including Air India and Tata Digital, and deal with crises such as an Air India plane crash, a cyberattack at JLR, and cash burn at Tata Nue. Despite these hurdles, Chandrasekaran’s legacy is one of bold bets and strategic vision, leaving an unfinished agenda after nearly 40 years with the group.
