The Next Generation Tatas - Get Introduced To Maya Tata (Image: Artistic recreation by Artist Prasanth KP from an ET photo)
Tata is not a brand or a business house but a household name for India. The group, which was established in 1868, has walked the distance with India, though the difficult terrains and through the best moments. In short, the Tata group grew with the rising India. The conglomerate has its presence over 150 countries across continents but the name is very Indian as is all its leaders. The illustrious list of torch bearers has now paused at Ratan Tata, who is still an active part of the Group. The quest for ‘the one’ within the empire is still on, though we have Natarajan Chandrasekharan as Chairman now.
Ratan Naval Tata joined the Group in the year 1991. There are no words for the roles that he has enlivened as the leader and mascot of Tata group. As his predecessors, he has held the light and the innovative spirit, letting the sparkles of his fireworks benefit his country in every possible way. A philanthropist, a business man who knew what to do when and, who was ready to take calculated risks, who had the visionary skill set as his predecessors, who believes in returning to the people, an exemplary with his own style, very admired by his people – as he heads the helm, he is grooming his heir apparent. The question of who could it be, leads us to Leah (37), Maya (34) and Neville (30) – the three-younger generation of the Tatas.
Let’s get to know Maya Tata a little more…
Maya Tata, the step niece of Ratan Tata is the second daughter of Noel Tata and Aloo Mistry. She carries a luxuriant legacy as the grand-daughter of Naval and Simone Tata from her paternal side and as grand-daughter of Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry of Shapoorji Pallonji Group and a major shareholder of the Tata conglomerate, on her maternal side, which also makes her the niece of the late Cyrus Mistry, who was also the Chairman of the Tata Group.
Her career journey began with the oldest private equity fund of the Tata Group’s subsidiary, the Tata Capital, called the Tata Opportunities Fund, she worked with the fund until its closure. The 34-year-old did her studies at the prestigious Bayes Business School and the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom. It was after this, that she entered the Tata Opportunities Fund where she polished her skill set in portfolio management and investor relations, strengthening her understanding of the dynamics of the corporate world she was in.
The next step, from there, she went on to Tata Digital. The Tata Neu app was launched during her time, a multipurpose super app which brings in a host of services in one app, possibly, the first of its kind in India. It is said that her father, Noel Tata keenly wanted her to stay there.
Recently, Maya, Leah and Neville have been welcomed onboard Tata Medical Centre Trust as board members where they would be groomed further by the iconic Ratan Tata himself. The board has very selective members. This is seen as the induction of the next generation helm-holders in to a higher circle.
Maya has considerable interest in analytics and technology of the new age. The young scion of the business conglomerate, keeps a low profile just as the towering figure that is leading her ahead.
Her lineage which is abundantly steeped in business excellence and her commitment to the same with the grooming and guidance would be the light as the young scion enters the new role. It is said that, when Ratan Tata was inducted as the Chairman of the Tata Group, he dint get into his legendary predecessors big shoes, but into a minefield, that”s what J R D Tata was, and now, it could very well be true for Maya, who is being prepared for the minefield by the legend that J R D prepared.
(With inputs from Tata Group Website, Economic Times, Financial Express and dnaindia.com)
