Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata set to retire from Titan board on Nov 12

Bobby Anthony

Mumbai, Nov 6 (UNI) Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Naval Tata will retire as Vice Chairman and Director of Titan on November 12, ending his association with the company's board which began in August 2003, the company announced on Friday through a regulatory filing to the stock exchange.

In its stock exchange filing, Titan acknowledged Notel Tata's contribution to its strategic direction, particularly his expertise in consumer and retail businesses. In an earlier filing, group company Trent Ltd stated that Noel Tata will also retire as Chairman and director of Trent Ltd on November 11, after nearly three decades with the Tata Group retailer, with the company's board appointing Bahram Vakil as his successor, effective November 12.

Noel Tata, who has been associated with Trent Ltd since 1997, will become Chairman Emeritus of the company from November 12, in recognition of his contribution to the company, Trent Ltd stated in a regulatory filing. Noel Tata, who took over as Chairman of Tata Trusts in October 2024, after his half-brother Ratan Tata passed away, will continue to head Tata Trusts, which is the majority shareholder in Tata Sons, which is the holding company of the Tata Group.

The leadership transition at Trent Ltd is in accordance with the Tata Group Governance Guidelines, which prescribe requirements relating to board composition, committees and the retirement of directors.

The Trent Ltd board has also approved the appointment of Rajiv Dube as an additional non-executive, subject to shareholder approval, while Kalpana Merchant has been appointed an additional director and an independent director for a three-year term, which is also subject to shareholder approval. Trent Ltd stated that Noel Tata, who is the Chairman of Tata Trusts, the majority shareholder in Tata Sons, had provided strategic direction and leadership during his tenure, helping the company strengthen its market position and deliver growth for stakeholders.

Meanwhile, former Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) trustee Mehli Mistry issued a statement questioning Noel Tata's eligibility to continue as a trustee of the Bai Hirabai Jamsetji Tata Navsari Charitable Institution, alleging that Noel Tata holds Irish citizenship, a UAE Golden Visa and is a tax resident of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In a rejoinder filed before the Maharashtra Deputy Charity Commissioner, Mehli Mistry sought an affidavit from Noel Tata disclosing his citizenship at the time of his appointment, the circumstances surrounding the alleged change in his citizenship and his current tax residency status. Mehli Mistry filed the rejoinder in Change Report Number 678 of 2026, responding to the Tata Trust's reply dated October 14, 2026, which was affirmed by Noel Tata.

Former Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) trustee Mehli Mistry has alleged that the trust selectively questioned his citizenship and overseas tax residency while ignoring the same issues concerning its own reporting trustee, Noel Tata. "The Trust cannot seek to disqualify or cast aspersions upon the objector by reference to his citizenship or tax residence while conveniently ignoring the Irish citizenship and UAE residency of its own Reporting Trustee," former Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) trustee Mehli Mistry stated in his rejoinder to the Maharashtra Deputy Charity Commissioner.

Mistry has argued that if foreign citizenship and overseas residence are relevant to determining a trustee's eligibility, the same criteria must also apply to all trustees. "If foreign citizenship and overseas residence are to be treated as relevant considerations, they must be examined in relation to the Reporting Trustee with equal rigour," Mehli Mistry stated. He also sought a clarification on whether Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata was an Indian citizen or an Irish citizen when he was appointed as a trustee and whether he previously held a Swiss passport while also holding an Indian passport.

Former Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) trustee Mehli Mistry also asked Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata to disclose whether he is currently a tax resident of India or any other country. Mehli Mistry's rejoinder also challenged the trust's reliance on Mistry's citizenship and tax residency, arguing that neither the Will, its Codicil nor the trust deed makes Indian citizenship or Indian tax residency a condition for trusteeship.

Mistry also stated in his rejoinder that Clause 18 of the trust deed requires a trustee to be a "permanent resident of some place in the Bombay Presidency or Navsari". Former Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) trustee Mehli Mistry stated that foreign citizenship or tax residency should not be confused with this specific residence requirement.

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