Neville Tata and Bhaskar Bhatt Appointed as Trustees of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust

On November 11, Neville Tata, son of Tata Trust chairman Noel Tata, was appointed as a trustee of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. The trust is the largest shareholder in Tata Sons, the holding company for the Tata Group's businesses ranging from salt to software, with a 27.98% stake. This move comes days after the resolution of a long-standing conflict between two factions – one led by Noel Tata and the other by the late Ratan Tata's confidant, Mehli Mistry.

Mehli Mistry was removed from the main trust and did not legally contest the decision, as widely expected. According to a statement, Neville's appointment as trustee was unanimously approved by the board. At 32, Neville joined his father's business Trent in 2016 and currently leads the apparel retail chain, Westside. Neville's appointment is for a period of 3 years and is seen as a step to strengthen Noel Tata's influence over the family trusts.

Other Trustee Appointments

The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust board also appointed Bhaskar Bhatt as a trustee. Bhatt has previously led Titan, worked as a brand custodian, and held several senior positions within the Tata Group. Venu Srinivasan was also appointed as a trustee for three years, aligning with recent Maharashtra government regulations that prevent lifetime trustee appointments. Srinivasan, a close associate of Noel Tata, was also named vice-chairman of the trust.