Tata Group

The Tata Group was founded by Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata in 1868, marking the beginning of one of India's largest and oldest conglomerates. Jamsetji Tata, born in 1839, was a visionary entrepreneur who started a private trading company in 1868 and laid the foundation for what would become the Tata Group. His vision was to aid India's economic independence, and he focused on textile, iron, steel, and hydroelectric power. His leadership style and foresight transformed the industrial landscape of India.

Tata Steel, originally known as Tata Iron and Steel Company Limited (TISCO), was established by Jamsetji Tata's son, Dorabji Tata, in 1907. This event marked a significant milestone in India's industrial history, as Tata Steel became the first steel plant in India. Located in Jamshedpur, the plant was started to reduce India's dependency on British steel imports. Over the years, Tata Steel has evolved into one of the leading steel producers globally, pioneering various production techniques and sustainable practices.

In 1932, Tata Airlines, which would later become Air India, was launched as India's first airline. Founded by Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy (J.R.D.) Tata, Tata Airlines took its maiden flight on October 15, 1932, carrying mail from Karachi to Bombay via Ahmedabad. Tata piloted the initial flight himself, demonstrating his passion for aviation. Tata Airlines expanded rapidly, contributing significantly to India's civil aviation sector before it was nationalized in 1953, becoming Air India International.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a subsidiary of Tata Sons, was founded in 1968. TCS emerged as a pioneer in the Indian IT industry and has grown to become one of the largest IT services firms globally. It was established to provide management and technology consultancy services. Over the decades, TCS has played a significant role in India's emergence as an IT powerhouse, offering a range of services such as IT consultancy, business solutions, and outsourcing services worldwide.

The liberalization of the Indian economy in 1991 marked a significant turn for Tata Group and India. As economic reforms opened up the market, Tata Group expanded its international presence and diversified its portfolio. This period saw Tata companies like TCS and Tata Motors exploring global markets, leading to exponential growth. Tata Group also restructured various businesses to make them competitive and globally recognized brands, marking a new era of liberalization-driven prosperity for the conglomerate.

In 2000, Tata Tea, now Tata Consumer Products, acquired Tetley Group, Britain’s second-largest tea company. This acquisition was the largest take-over by an Indian company at that time. It marked a critical moment in Tata Group's global expansion strategy, as the purchase of Tetley allowed Tata to access the UK tea market and expand its international footprint. The acquisition helped Tata become the second-largest global tea producer, showcasing Tata’s ability to compete on the international stage.

The acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) by Tata Motors from Ford in 2008 was a landmark deal. Purchased for $2.3 billion, this was one of the most significant acquisitions by an Indian company in the automotive sector. The acquisition positioned Tata Motors as a key player in the luxury vehicle segment. Despite initial skepticism about the deal, Tata Motors successfully turned around the performance of JLR and amplified its brand reach globally, highlighting Tata's competency in managing global brands.

On October 24, 2016, Tata Sons ousted Cyrus Mistry as its chairman in a boardroom coup. The dramatic removal of Mistry, who had succeeded Ratan Tata in 2012, was unforeseen. The move led to a public and legal feud, which raised concerns about corporate governance practices within the Tata Group. Ratan Tata was reinstated as interim chairman, and later Natarajan Chandrasekaran became the chairman in 2017. The incident marked a turbulent phase in the group's history, with reverberations in shareholder and public spheres.

Natarajan Chandrasekaran was appointed as the Chairman of Tata Sons on February 21, 2017. Chandrasekaran succeeded interim chairman Ratan Tata, who stepped in following the ouster of Cyrus Mistry. Before this role, he was CEO and Managing Director of Tata Consultancy Services. His appointment was expected to bring stability and continued growth to the Tata conglomerate. Chandra's leadership has been crucial in strategizing group operations and reinforcing Tata’s global business presence post the significant corporate shake-up in 2016.

In 2021, Tata Consumer Products was formed by merging Tata Tea and Tata Salt. This amalgamation was a strategic move to integrate the company’s consumer business and enhance its market presence. Tata Consumer Products focuses on both domestic and international markets, promoting various food and beverage products. The merger intended to leverage synergies between the businesses, streamline operations, and create a stronger brand portfolio. As a result, Tata Consumer Products emerged as one of India's leading FMCG companies.