Ratan Tata: Enduring Legacy

Ratan Tata’s strategic foresight continues to influence the business landscape, with Tata Group making noteworthy acquisitions across diverse sectors. These recent moves underscore Tata’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and global relevance

• Ratan Tata retired as the Chairman of the Tata Group in 2012, but he still mentors and guides India’s largest conglomerate
• Tata is now manufacturing components for the latest iPhones on behalf of Apple, as India enters the most advanced supply chain

RATAN TATA, the former chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, is a global business leader who is widely respected and admired for his visionary leadership. He has made many strategic acquisitions that have transformed the Tata conglomerate into a global force.

VISION FOR TATA GROUP

Ratan Tata retired as the Chairman of the Tata Group in 2012, but he still mentors and guides India’s largest conglomerate, which has a presence in over 150 countries, and operates in 100 countries across six continents. The Tata group of companies has a combined market capitalization of ₹25 trillion (US$300 billion) as of September 2023.
He led the Tata Group to acquire Air India, a debt-ridden national carrier, in a historic deal for the Indian aviation industry. This deal brought Tata Group back to its roots, as it was the original founder of Tata Airlines, which later became Air India, in 1932.
Tata’s vision for Air India extends beyond mere ownership; it embodies a commitment to revitalising the national airline and restoring it to its former glory. The acquisition aligns with Tata Group’s historical significance in Indian aviation and reflects Ratan Tata’s dedication to contributing to the country’s air travel landscape.

PHILANTHROPY IN ACTION

Ratan Tata has also shown his passion for philanthropy. He has supported innovation and smart investments that have created a positive social impact. He has funded a novel startup called Goodfellows that helps senior citizens find young graduates for meaningful friendships. He has also supported an NGO Motopaws India that works to improve the quality of life for stray dogs in India.

Industrialist Ratan Tata is the most followed industrialist on social media, with 12.6 million followers on X. Ratan Tata is known for sharing posts related to stray dogs facing challenging circumstances and helping them find homes

WHAT NEXT

Tata is now manufacturing components for the latest iPhones on behalf of Apple, marking a significant shift as India enters the world’s most advanced supply chain, a position traditionally dominated by China. The Tata Group solidified this move by acquiring a 100% equity stake in Wistron Infocomm Manufacturing (India) through a binding share purchase agreement with SMS InfoComm (Singapore) and Wistron Hong Kong Limited. This strategic step officially integrates Tata into the Apple supply chain as an iPhone assembler, with a $125 million investment in acquiring Wistron India’s assembly lines. Beyond a singular initiative, this undertaking is part of a monumental $90 billion investment surge by India’s largest business, redirecting its focus from a three-decade global expansion strategy to a more centralised approach in its home market. Tata’s vision includes the establishment of electronics factories and semiconductor fabs in India, presenting the potential to reshape the nation’s economy.

DIGITAL PERSONA

Industrialist Ratan Tata is the most followed industrialist on social media, with 12.6 million followers on X. Ratan Tata is known for sharing posts related to stray dogs facing challenging circumstances and helping them find homes. He uses his social media presence for noble causes, dispelling fake quotes and rumours associated with his name.

STARTUP MAESTRO

After his exit from executive duties at the group, Ratan Tata unexpectedly turned into a star figure in India’s startup circles. He has backed over 50 startups in various domains such as e-commerce, health care, education, and social media. Some of his notable investments include eyewear retailer Lenskart,BigBasket,1mg, electric vehicle startup Ola Electric Mobility Pvt and online stock trading platform Upstox.