11/10/2024
Ratan Tata, a renowned business tycoon, is celebrated not only for his remarkable business achievements but also for his humanitarian contributions. Among his family members is Simone Tata, his stepmother and the mother of Noel Tata. She played a pivotal role in establishing and growing the well-known cosmetics brand, Lakmé.
Simone Tata, originally from Geneva, Switzerland, arrived in India at the age of 23, where she met Navan Hormusji Tata, Ratan Tata’s adopted brother and the son of Sir Ratanji Tata. After a few years of courtship, they married in 1955, and Simone settled permanently in Mumbai, giving birth to Noel Tata in 1957.
In 1962, Simone joined Tata Oil Mills, which included Lakmé, a small subsidiary at the time. Over her two-decade tenure, she rose to become the chairperson of Lakmé. Her leadership contributed significantly to the brand’s success, leading to her appointment on the board of Tata Industries in 1989. In 1996, Lakmé was sold to Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL), and the proceeds were used to establish Trent Limited, which has a market capitalization of ₹700.23 billion. Trent owns several well-known retail chains, including Landmark bookstores and Westside clothing stores. Simone served as the non-executive chairman of Trent until October 30, 2006.
Noel Tata, Simone’s son, is the chairman of both Tata Investment Corporation and Trent. He pursued his education at Sussex University and INSEAD, and he serves on the boards of several major companies, including Voltas, Titan Industries, and Kansai Nerolac Paints. His wife, Aloo, is connected to Pallonji Mistry of the Shapoorji-Pallonji group, which holds a significant stake in Tata Sons.