Simone Tata, Pioneering Leader Behind Lakme and Westside, Dies at 95

• Veteran business leader Simone Tata dies in Mumbai at 95
• Played a defining role in building Lakmé and founding Trent’s Westside
• Influential figure in India’s beauty and retail sectors for over 40 years

Simone Tata, one of the most influential leaders in India’s beauty and retail industries and the step-mother of Ratan Tata, passed away on Friday at the age of 95 at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai.

Simone had been in critical condition since August, battling symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. She was airlifted from Dubai to Mumbai earlier this year and was under the care of renowned physician Dr. Farokh Udwadia.

Born in Geneva in 1929, Simone first came to India as a 23 year-old tourist in 1953. During her visit, she met Naval Tata, who was 26 years older and divorced at the time. The two married in 1955, and Simone made Mumbai her permanent home. Her move marked the beginning of a remarkable journey that would leave a lasting impact on India’s consumer landscape.

Simone Tata played a central role in shaping Lakmé, which the Tata Group had launched in 1952 after Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru expressed the need for an Indian cosmetics brand. She became chairperson in the early 1980s and helped transform Lakmé into one of the country's most trusted beauty names.

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In 1996, when the Tata Group sold Lakmé to Hindustan Unilever, Simone used the proceeds to establish Trent Ltd., where she launched Westside. Under her leadership, Westside grew into one of India’s most successful retail chains. She also served on the board of Tata Industries and was known for her sharp business acumen and visionary leadership.

Simone retired in 2006 and maintained a low public profile thereafter. She was last seen publicly in October 2024 at the funeral of her stepson, Ratan Tata. After his passing, Noel Tata took over as chairman of Tata Trusts.

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