MUMBAI: A deep rift within the leadership of Tata Trusts, India’s oldest philanthropic institution, has been laid bare in the minutes of a contentious board meeting held on September 11. The core of the dispute centers on the nomination of trustee Mehli Mistry to the board of Tata Sons, a move that was ultimately blocked by Tata Trusts’ chairman, Noel Tata.
During a heated discussion, Mistry, a known confidant of the late Ratan Tata, expressed his personal disappointment, stating he had “continuously supported Noel at all times, including when you were being considered for the chairman’s role” and was therefore “dismayed” by Noel’s refusal to back his candidacy.
The conflict erupted during a mandatory annual review of 77-year-old vice-chairman Vijay Singh’s position as a nominee director on the Tata Sons board. A faction of four trustees—Mistry, Darius Khambata, Pramit Jhaveri, and Jehangir Jehangir—voted against Singh’s reappointment, arguing that the Trusts required a “more forceful voice” to represent its interests, especially concerning the impending public listing of Tata Sons. They proposed Mehli Mistry as the ideal replacement.
However, Noel Tata and fellow trustee Venu Srinivasan stood firmly by Singh, citing his unwavering loyalty to Ratan Tata and the group during one of its most challenging periods, likely referencing the legal battle against former chairman Cyrus Mistry. Noel Tata also noted that Singh had the full support of Tata Sons chairman N. Chandrasekaran and that forcing him out before his term ended would set a bad precedent.
The disagreement highlighted a clear division, with trustee Pramit Jhaveri pointing to a “lack of transparency” and a “sense of alienation among trustees” since October 2024. He suggested that two classes of trustees had been created—those who were nominee directors on the Tata Sons board (Noel Tata and Venu Srinivasan) and those who were not.
When directly asked if he supported Mehli Mistry’s nomination, Noel Tata replied in the “negative,” leading to Mistry’s expression of dismay. Ultimately, the vote on Vijay Singh’s directorship was split 4-2 against his continuation, prompting his resignation from the Tata Sons board.
