Tata Trusts Evaluate Bhaskar Bhat’s Entry to Tata Sons Board Amid Talk of Power Rebalancing

Tata Trusts Consider Bhaskar Bhat for Tata Sons Board as Internal Power Dynamics Shift

A significant shift may be underway within the Tata Group’s governance structure as the Tata Trusts are said to be weighing the nomination of senior group veteran Bhaskar Bhat to the Tata Sons board. According to people directly aware of ongoing deliberations, discussions have intensified in recent days and Bhat’s name may be taken up as early as December, when the Tata Sons board convenes for its next meeting. Although no final decision has been made, the move is being interpreted as a potential recalibration of influence among key trustees.

Bhat, 71, was inducted earlier this month as a trustee of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, the largest shareholder in Tata Sons with an estimated 28 percent stake. The Trust is also one of the most influential voices within the broader Tata philanthropic ecosystem, which collectively holds about 66 percent of the holding company. His possible elevation to the Tata Sons board has therefore grabbed significant attention within business and governance circles.

A Veteran Insider May Return to the Heart of Tata Governance

Considered one of the most respected executives in the Tata Group, Bhaskar Bhat is best known for transforming Titan Ltd—steering it from a watches business into India’s largest organised jewellery, eyewear and lifestyle accessories company. His career, spanning more than four decades, includes stints at Godrej & Boyce and the Tata Watch Project in the early 1980s. He has also served on multiple Tata company boards, stepping down during recent restructuring exercises.

His induction into the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust was seen as a strategic move. Alongside Neville Tata, Bhat’s appointment marked a deeper restructuring of trustee roles at a time when several governance-heavy issues—such as the potential listing of Tata Sons—are in active discussion.

Sources indicate that Bhat is considered close to Noel Tata, one of the key trust nominees on the Tata Sons board. If appointed, Bhat’s presence could further strengthen Noel Tata’s influence at a critical juncture for the group.

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Tata Sons Board Composition and the Implications of Adding Bhat

The Tata Sons board currently comprises six members:

• Chairman N. Chandrasekaran

• Trust nominees Noel Tata and Venu Srinivasan

• Group CFO Saurabh Agrawal

• Independent directors Harish Manwani and Anita Marangoly George

The Tata Trusts are permitted to nominate up to one-third of the board. Inducting Bhat as the third nominee may require one of the existing trust representatives to vacate the position—unless the board is expanded.

An alternative being examined is to wait until the end of the financial year, when Tata Sons is expected to add an additional independent director. A larger board would allow the Trusts to place three nominees without replacing anyone.

Either path would have meaningful implications for internal governance, especially as the group prepares for major decisions surrounding leadership continuity and potential structural changes.

Governance Questions Loom: From Chandrasekaran’s Reappointment to Tata Sons’ Future

One of the most significant decisions pending before the Tata Sons board is the reappointment of Chairman N. Chandrasekaran for another five-year term. Although sources say the Trusts gave their internal approval in August, a formal ratification by the Tata Sons board remains necessary.

Bhat’s presence on the board could influence how such governance decisions unfold, particularly within the context of shifting alignments among trustees.

Recent months have seen visible friction within the Trusts. Noel Tata and Venu Srinivasan were previously aligned during the internal disagreements that preceded the exit of trustee Mehli Mistry. Mistry, backed by fellow trustees Darius Khambata, Jehangir H.C. Jehangir, and Pramit Jhaveri, had raised concerns about transparency and information flow within the Trusts—issues that came to a head ahead of the contentious September 11 meeting.

These disputes led to Vijay Singh not being renominated to the Tata Sons board. Shortly after, Mistry’s own reappointment to the Trusts was blocked by Noel Tata, Srinivasan, and Singh. Mistry later told Noel Tata he would not challenge the decision.

New Tensions Arise as Neville Tata’s Appointment Faces Resistance

Despite expectations that Neville Tata would join both the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust—the two largest shareholders of Tata Sons—his pathway faced resistance. As reported earlier, Venu Srinivasan blocked Neville Tata’s induction into the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, citing procedural lapses, even though the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust approved Neville’s appointment for a three-year term and simultaneously inducted Bhaskar Bhat on November 11.

The absence of Srinivasan from the board during these approvals added another layer of complexity to the evolving internal dynamics. According to insiders, the developments suggest that trustee alignments are shifting as Tata Sons prepares for crucial governance decisions that will shape the group’s long-term strategy.

What Bhat’s Possible Entry Means for the Tata Sons Board

If Bhaskar Bhat is eventually nominated to the Tata Sons board, it would signal:

• A recalibration of influence among key trustees

• Greater representation for Noel Tata’s camp

• A strengthening of insider-driven governance experience

• Broader implications for decisions on leadership succession and potential listing

• Renewed alignment within the Trusts ahead of major structural reforms

Mails sent to Tata Trusts and Tata Sons remained unanswered. Bhat has denied any knowledge of the discussions, telling Moneycontrol he was unaware of any such move.

For now, the potential nomination remains under deliberation, but the very possibility of adding Bhat to the Tata Sons board highlights the shifting power dynamics within one of India’s most influential business groups—and suggests that the next few months could mark a pivotal chapter in Tata governance.

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