Ratan Tata

Ratan Naval Tata (1937–2024) was Chairman of Tata Sons from 1991 to 2012 and one of India's most admired business leaders. Under his leadership, the Tata Group grew from a domestic conglomerate into a global enterprise: Tata Steel acquired Corus (2007), Tata Motors acquired Jaguar Land Rover (2008), and Tata Consultancy Services became one of the world's largest IT services firms. He championed the Tata Nano — conceived to give Indian families an affordable car — and drove landmark cross-border deals that reshaped Indian business. A qualified architect (Cornell) and Harvard AMP graduate, he remained Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons after 2012, chaired Tata Trusts (one of India's largest philanthropic organisations), and became an active mentor and angel investor to Indian startups. He received the Padma Bhushan (2000) and Padma Vibhushan (2008). His passing in October 2024 was mourned as the end of an era in Indian industry.