After Ratan Tata, who?

When J. R. D. Tata was alive, he had groomed Ratan Tata to be his successor. In a recent interview with the prestigious Wall Street Journal Ratan Tata has given us some inkling as to whom the baton will be passed on. He said: "In terms of who that successor might be, it could be he or she, it could be an internal or external candidate. It would be certainly easier if that candidate were an Indian national... But now that 65 percent of our revenues come from overseas, it could also be an expatriate sitting in that position. With justification now that we are a company that has global reach and global presence... The successor, I would hope, would have integrity and our value systems in the forefront and hopefully would carry on the path that we have tried to set for the company’s growth.”

Whoever will be the successor, that person will not carry the Tata family’s name unless he is Noel Tata.

Who will ultimately succeed Ratan Tata to preside over the $ 71 billion Tata group will only be known in 2012 when he steps down from all his executive posts on reaching the age of 75 years, as per the group’s policy.

BHIKHAJI M. ADENWALLA