The Indian Executive Newsmakers

Ratan Tata, Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Tata Motors:

Ratan Tata takes the fourth spot on the list. He made headlines the past month as he is set to retire in December, when Cyrus Mistry will take over as his successor. Tata, head of the $83.3 billion salt-to-software multinational of more than 100 operating companies, will retire in December when he turns 75. He was quoted saying at the Tata Motors’ shareholder AGM “I am not going to disappear. You will continue to see my face. I will be around, whether you like it or not,” as reported by Business Line.

Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya, the Warwick-based engineer and academic who was a member of the panel that chose Cyrus Mistry as the next chairman of the Tata Group of Companies, said that the “same charitable culture” will continue in the company, as reported by PTI. Known to be a close friend and adviser to the outgoing Chairman, Ratan Tata, Bhattacharyya told The Sunday Times that there will be very little change to the Tata group’s strategy or its philanthropic principles.