MUMBAI: Ratan Tata, the former chairman of Tata Group and one of India’s most revered industrialists, has passed away at the age of 86.
The news was confirmed by Tata Group late Wednesday, following his admission to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, where he had been receiving intensive care due to a sudden drop in blood pressure.
Born on December 28, 1937, Tata steered one of India’s largest conglomerates for over two decades, leaving an indelible mark on global business, philanthropy, and the Indian economy.
Under his stewardship, Tata Group, founded by his great-grandfather, emerged as a global enterprise, with revenues surpassing $165 billion in 2023-24.
Ratan Tata’s leadership of Tata Group began in 1991, during a time of economic liberalization in India. He succeeded his uncle, J.R.D. Tata, and embarked on a bold strategy of expansion and modernisation, restructuring several Tata companies and promoting younger executives to leadership positions.
He led the group to international prominence through landmark acquisitions, including Tetley Tea (2000), Corus Steel (2007), and Jaguar Land Rover (2008). His efforts to globalize the conglomerate meant that over half of Tata Group’s revenues by 2011 came from international markets.
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