Tata Sons considers historic revamp of its leadership: Report

It plans to create the role of a CEO, overseen by the chairman, a job held for now by N Chandrasekaran.

Tata Sons Ltd., the holding company for India’s largest conglomerate, is considering an historic revamp of its leadership structure by creating a chief executive officer’s role to help improve corporate governance, people engaged in the deliberations said. Under the plan being proposed, the CEO will guide the sprawling businesses of the 153-year-old Tata empire, while the chairman will oversee the chief executive on behalf of shareholders, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing private information. The approval of Ratan Tata — the octogenarian chairman of controlling owner Tata Trusts — is seen as key to implementing the change, they said. The current chairman of Tata Sons, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, is being considered for extension after his term ends in February, while heads of various Tata group firms, including Tata Steel Ltd., are being evaluated for the CEO position, the people said. No final decision has been reached, and the plan and details could still change, the people said. A spokeswoman for Tata Sons declined to comment. Emails to Tata Trusts and Ratan Tata weren’t answered.