Tata Group’s differences came out in open after Noel Tata’s daughters Maya Tata, Leah Tata elevation, two trustees…

When the appointment of Noel Tata’s daughters, Leah Tata and Maya Tata was done on SRTII Board of Trustees the internal disagreements had come out, claims media report.

The Tata Group is undergoing a transition after the death of Ratan Tata. Recently Maya and Leah Tata, daughters of Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata, took big roles in the group. Their recent induction into the Board of Trustees of the Sir Ratan Tata Industrial Institute (SRTII) shows Tata Group’s preparation for larger responsibilities to them within the group. But after their elevation certain internal disagreements arose over the process of induction.

Maya and Leah Tata’s New Roles

Maya (36) and Leah (39) have joined the SRTII Board of Trustees, replacing outgoing members Arnaz Kotwal and Freddy Talati. SRTII, a subset of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, holds a critical position as one of the primary shareholders of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group.

Though the daughters of Noel Tata have been included in smaller trusts, they are yet to join the more influential Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Allied Trusts or Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Allied Trusts.

Trustee Resign After Disagreements

The appointments have sparked controversy, with outgoing trustee Arnaz Kotwal expressing dissatisfaction over her resignation process. According to an Economic Times report, in a letter to fellow trustees, Kotwal alleged that she was asked to step down without direct communication from the board. She claimed her resignation was facilitated by Burgess Taraporewala, an executive at Tata Trusts, and Siddharth Sharma, the CEO, through a third party.

She stated, “Since I am now in Dubai and after considerable thought, I have acceded to Burjis’s request but was very saddened that none of you reached out to speak with me directly about this matter and I was blindsided by this communication from a virtual stranger under the direction of his CEO, Sidharth Sharma, both of whom have no nexus to SRTI,”

Kotwal further alleged that the resignation request came at Noel Tata’s behest, with Mehli Mistry also involved in the process. Meanwhile, Freddy Talati, another outgoing trustee, has transitioned to a new role at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), while Kotwal is now with VFS Global in Dubai.

Sir Ratan Tata Industrial Institute (SRTII)

Founded in 1928 by Lady Navajbai Tata and the Stree Zarthosti Mandal, SRTII focuses on empowering underprivileged women through skill-based training in areas like cooking, sewing, embroidery, and Montessori teaching.

The Sir Ratan Tata Trust Board, which nominates three of SRTII’s six trustees, unanimously approved the appointments of Maya and Leah Tata. Their close association with SRTII operations and regular presence in Mumbai were cited as key reasons for their selection.

Maya Tata, Leah Tata Career & Education

Leah Tata: Currently Vice President at Indian Hotels, Leah holds a master’s degree in marketing from IE Business School.

Maya Tata: Part of Tata Digital, Maya began her career at Tata Capital and is now involved in managing the Tata Neu app.

Both sisters hold managerial positions within the Tata Group, signifying their growing influence in the company’s operations.

The appointments reflect the ongoing generational transition within the Tata family, with Noel Tata’s children stepping into more prominent roles. As the group positions itself for the future, the involvement of Leah and Maya Tata in trust boards underscores their preparation for leadership responsibilities at a broader level.