Noel Tata challenges resolution to reappoint Chandrasekaran as Tata Sons chairman

On Monday, Noel Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts, challenged the decision to reappoint N Chandrasekaran as chairman of Tata Sons. This resolution was approved during the board meeting of Tata Sons on September 17. Noel wrote to Tata Sons' company secretary, Suprakash Mukhopadhyay, challenging the reappointment beyond February 2027 as well. The controversy has exposed rifts within the over-century-old conglomerate's board.

Sources close to the development revealed that Noel has deemed the reappointment of five years void. He based his argument on several factors, including notice and the agenda for the meeting. Noel argued that the reappointment was brought up out of turn and was not on the agenda at all. The sources said this decision was limited to a debriefing from the nomination and remuneration committee.

Attempts to contact Tata Sons and Tata Trusts for comments on the matter have not yet yielded a response. Noel, who heads Tata Trusts, which owns two-thirds of Tata Sons, had previously opposed Chandrasekaran's reappointment when it was put to a vote. Venu Srinivasan, the second Tata Trusts director on the board of Tata Sons, sided with the majority in favor of reappointing Chandrasekaran. Other directors who voted in favor included Anita George, Harish Manwani, and Saurabh Agarwal.

According to Tata Sons' Articles of Association, Tata Trusts nominee directors must give their affirmative vote for a resolution to be passed. Noel contended in his letter that he sought an unedited video recording of the board meeting.