Tata Trusts Approve Policy Shift, Allowing N. Chandrasekaran to Continue Beyond Retirement Age

Tata Trusts have approved a potential third term for Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran. This marks a change in the group's long-standing retirement policy. Chandrasekaran's second term will end in February 2027, when he will be 65 years old. Tata executives typically step down from executive roles at age 65. However, he can remain in non-executive positions until age 70.

The extension of Chandrasekaran's term will reflect both his abilities and the trust Tata Trusts have placed in him, along with the group's direction, which has taken a bold new path under his leadership. The holding company, Tata Sons, will formally review the Trust's approved proposal. This is the first time someone may continue in a full executive position at Tata beyond retirement age. The proposal for Chandrasekaran's extension was presented by Noel Tata and Venu Srinivasan at the trust meeting on September 11 and was unanimously approved. Chandrasekaran was initially awarded a second five-year term beginning in February 2022. He joined the Tata Sons board in October 2016 and was appointed chairman in January 2017. Two factors drive Chandrasekaran's third consecutive term as head of the group: to ensure operational continuity and to lead key projects such as chips, electric vehicle batteries, and Air India.

Under Chandrasekaran's leadership, the Tata Group nearly doubled revenue, more than tripled net profit and market capitalization. In 2024-25, revenue from listed and unlisted entities reached ₹15.34 lakh crore, with a net profit of ₹1.13 lakh crore. However, the group's market capitalization declined by ₹6.9 lakh crore over the year, totaling ₹26.5 lakh crore as of October 10, 2025. Tata Sons' assets increased from ₹43,252 crore in 2018 to ₹1.49 lakh crore.