Next Generation Leadership: Maya and Leah Tata Join Sir Ratan Tata Industrial Institute Board
Maya and Leah Tata, daughters of Noel Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts, have joined the board of trustees of the Sir Ratan Tata Industrial Institute (SRTII).
According to a report by the Economic Times, this institute is a significant subset of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, one of the two major shareholders of Tata Sons, the conglomerate’s holding company.
Transition and New Appointments
The induction of Maya and Leah Tata follows the resignation of outgoing trustees Arnaz Kotwal and Freddy Talati.
This development marks the inclusion of all three of Noel Tata’s children on the boards of the smaller Tata Trusts. However, none have been inducted into the two main trusts—the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Allied Trusts and the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Allied Trusts.
Internal Rift Amid the Transition
The transition has not been without controversy. Arnaz Kotwal, one of the outgoing trustees, expressed dissatisfaction with the manner of her resignation.
In a letter to her fellow trustees, Kotwal stated that she felt blindsided by the request. “I was saddened that none of you reached out to speak with me directly about this matter,” she wrote, as quoted in the report.
Kotwal, currently based in Dubai and working with VFS Global, ultimately acceded to the request but expressed disappointment over the lack of direct communication.
Freddy Talati, the other outgoing trustee, currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA).
Strategic Appointments
The appointments of Maya and Leah Tata were reportedly made to align with SRTII’s plans for renovation and upgradation.
The Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT), which nominates three of the six SRTII board members, emphasized the need for trustees with experience in managing the institute’s affairs and who are based in Mumbai.
The SRTT board, comprising Noel Tata, Vijay Singh, Venu Srinivasan, Darius Khambata, Jehangir H. Jehangir, and Mehli Mistry, unanimously approved the appointments.
The involvement of Maya and Leah Tata, both millennials, is seen as a strategic move to prepare the next generation for greater responsibilities within the Tata Group.
Background of Maya and Leah Tata
Maya Tata started her career at Tata Capital and is currently involved with the team managing the Tata Neu app under Tata Digital.
Leah Tata, a vice president at Indian Hotels, holds a master’s degree in marketing from IE Business School. Both sisters have now taken on roles within the SRTII, a unit of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust focused on providing employment opportunities for women.
Ongoing Impact of the Transition
The reshuffle has caused some ripples within the organization. In an email to Taraporewala, an executive at Tata Trusts, Kotwal claimed she resigned on the insistence of Noel Tata, following a request conveyed by Burjis.
She expressed further dissatisfaction with the process, noting communication from Mehli Mistry, a trustee of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust.
Mistry, a first cousin of the late Cyrus Mistry, former chairman of the Tata Group, reportedly also addressed the transition.
The replacements, Maya and Leah Tata, have now taken over roles previously held by Freddy Talati and Arnaz Kotwal. Talati’s relocation to Dubai and current role at VFS Global paved the way for this strategic reshuffle.
The Tata Trusts Legacy
Noel Tata, who became chairman of Tata Trusts in October 2024, has played a pivotal role in guiding the philanthropic arm of the Tata Group.
His children—Leah, Maya, and Neville—have been progressively inducted into various trusts associated with the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Sir Dorabji Tata Trust.
Leah is vice president at Indian Hotels, while Maya contributes to Tata Capital. Their brother Neville is involved with Trent and is part of the leadership team at Star Bazaar.
Tata Trusts, the umbrella organization for 14 trusts, owns 65.3% of Tata Sons, underscoring its critical role in shaping the future of the Tata conglomerate.
Ownership of Tata Sons is largely divided between two key trusts—the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust—which together hold over 50% of the ownership.
