13 August,2026 02:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran (File pic)
The Tata Trusts have initiated the process of finding a successor to Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, a day after he announced that he would not offer himself for reappointment when his current term ends on February 20, 2027.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust said its trustees had passed a resolution to initiate the setting up of a Selection Committee as soon as possible, in accordance with the Articles of Association of Tata Sons.
The committee will recommend a candidate for appointment as the new Chairman of the Tata Sons Board of Directors.
The move formally begins the succession process for one of India's largest business groups, although the Trust did not name any potential candidates or specify when a new chairman is expected to be appointed.
The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust said it respected Chandrasekaran's decision and placed on record its appreciation for his contribution to Tata Sons and the wider Tata Group over the past decade.
"We place on record our deepest appreciation for his contribution and stewardship of Tata Sons and the Tata group over the past decade. We thank him for his immense contribution during a period of significant change, growth and transformation across the Group," the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust said.
The Trust also said it would support Tata Sons during the leadership transition and work towards ensuring that the process is carried out in an orderly manner.
"We extend our full support to Tata Sons in ensuring a smooth, timely and orderly transition of leadership, consistent with the values and long-term interests of Tata Sons and the Tata group," it said.
The development comes a day after Chandrasekaran announced that he would not seek another term as chairman of Tata Sons.
In his statement on Wednesday, Chandrasekaran said the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust had unanimously resolved and recommended extending his term by another five years.
The proposal was subsequently recorded and recommended by the Tata Sons Nomination and Remuneration Committee and the Board. It was tabled before the Tata Sons Board on February 24, 2026, but was not carried through after one Board member did not support it.
Chandrasekaran said that, in the absence of unanimous support, he had chosen to defer the decision. He added that six months had passed since the Board meeting without a resolution being reached.
Chandrasekaran said Tata Sons was a large institution with several strategic projects at critical stages and that clarity on its leadership was important for employees, investors, partners and other stakeholders.
"Under these circumstances, earlier today, I have communicated to the Tata Sons Board, that I have decided not to offer myself for reappointment when my term ends on Feb 20, 2027. I have asked the Board to decide on the succession soon to ensure a proper transition," Chandrasekaran had said.
His decision means the Tata Group will have a new chairman of Tata Sons after his current term ends in February 2027, bringing the succession question formally into focus.
The latest move by Tata Trusts sets the succession process in motion. Under the Articles of Association of Tata Sons, the Selection Committee will be responsible for recommending a person for appointment as the next chairman of the Tata Sons Board.
The Trust's statement did not identify any possible successor or provide a specific timeline for completing the appointment.
It said only that the Selection Committee would be initiated "as soon as possible" and would recommend a person for appointment as the new Chairman of the Tata Sons Board.
