The big question in the minds of corporate people is ‘Who after Ratan Tata?’ Who will take charge of the Tata Empire? Ratan Tata has not married and he won’t be leaving behind any natural heir. So far, it has been some Tata, one of the family that has been heading the Tata Group. One could clearly spot the successor.
But this time there appears to be a vacuum. No one is apparently being groomed to take charge after Ratan Tata. It is a fair guess that the next chairman won’t be a Tata. Ratan Tata himself commented on the issue, ‘It is a problem, sure. But I am busy in more important issues. I must better pay attention to them’.
Ratan Tata is 70 years old. He says that after determining the successor he would work for two more years only. He himself was groomed for the job for a long period by JRD Tata. This time no one is clearly under training. Ratan Tata has a younger brother and three step sisters but none of them is involved in any activity of the Tata Group. The step brother Noel is a maverick type who runs his own retail trade chain. Thus, the situation is very muddled.
Ratan Tata and other members of the family hold only 3% shares in Tata Sons. A private controlling company covers the risk as a business operation. Before taking leave Ratan Tata would like to see that the traditions and the ideals of Tatas must continue as has been so far. The real thing is that whoever occupies the Chair of the chairman of Tata Group is not important as long as the Tata spirit of benevolence fills the room.
