Ratan Tata, the business tycoon who transformed the Indian industrial sector, passed away on Wednesday night at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai at the age of 86. He was a monumental figure, known for establishing one of the world’s largest conglomerates and significantly impacting India's development.

With no children of his own, discussions surrounding Ratan Tata’s successor have long been a subject of speculation. The nation is closely watching to see who will take the helm of the Tata Group. Ratan Tata stepped down from his position as Chairman of Tata Sons over a decade ago, yet he remains synonymous with the Tata brand for many Indians. 

After Ratan Tata's retirement, the reins of the Tata empire passed to Cyrus Mistry, who became the first non-family chairman in Tata's history. However, Mistry’s tenure was short-lived; he was ousted after just four years due to disagreements with Ratan Tata, resulting in a highly publicized fallout.

Will Noel rise to the leadership?

In Mistry's place, Natarajan Chandrasekaran was appointed chairman of Tata Group in 2017. Apart from this, some family members also hold various leadership positions across different businesses within the group, raising expectations that one of them could ascend to leadership in the future. The name most frequently mentioned as a potential successor is Noel Tata, Ratan Tata’s half-brother, born from Naval Tata’s second marriage.

Ratan Tata was known for his philosophy of prioritizing professionalism over familial ties, which was evident in his decision not to consider Noel for the chairman position during his lifetime. Ratan Tata was of the opinion that Noel Tata is not capable of shouldering the responsibilities of leadership. However, with the possibility of a generational shift within the Tata Group, many in the corporate world view Noel Tata as a natural candidate for leadership.

Leadership chances for Noel’s children too 

Another possibility lies with Noel Tata’s children—Leah Tata, Maya Tata, and Neville Tata. All three are seen as potential successors, as they have been involved in various capacities within Tata Group's enterprises. Recently, the Tata Trusts appointed the next generation, including Leah, Maya, and Neville, to increase their roles and prepare them for future leadership positions. Tata Trusts controls Tata Sons, the parent company of the group of companies.

Leah Tata, who graduated from IE Business School in Madrid, has worked with the Indian Hotels Company Limited, part of the Taj Group. She has been involved in the Tata Education Trust, Tata Social Welfare Trust, and Sarvajanik Trust. Meanwhile, Neville Tata is associated with Tata's fashion sector, Trent, and will also contribute to JRD Tata Trust, RD Tata Trust, and Tata Social Welfare Trust. Neville has also been appointed as a board member of the Tata Indian Institute of Steels.

Maya Tata tightens the competition 

Maya Tata, the youngest of the three, is frequently mentioned as a significant contender for future leadership. At 34, she has made notable contributions to the group. Educated at Bayes Business School and University of Warwick in London, she started her career with Tata Opportunities Fund. Maya also handled portfolio management and investor relations at Tata Capital, a subsidiary of Tata Group. But she switched to digital due to the sudden closure of the fund. 

Her experience in launching Tata Neu App during her time at Tata Digital adds to her credentials. Maya is in charge of the RD Tata Trust, Tata Educations Trust, and Sarvajanik Trust. There are those who believe that Maya will reach the leadership position of the Tata Group.