TATA GROUP- HISTORY, COMPANIES AND PHILOSOPHY
Founded in 1868, the Tata Group of Companies is one of India's oldest business empires. It is operating in more than 100 countries across six continents with 1,028,000 employees as of FY 2023.
The company's mission is 'To bring enhancement in the quality of life in the communities', it is serving on global level with long-term stakeholder value creation based on Leadership with Trust.
Headquartered in Mumbai, Tata Group is operating several primary business sectors including chemicals, consumer products, energy information systems, materials, services, etc.
Comprising 29 publicly listed companies, the Tata Group boasts a combined market capitalisation of ₹31.6 trillion (US$382 billion) as of March 8, 2024.
The major competitors of the company include Aditya Birla Group, Mahindra, Adani and Reliance. In 2017-18, the revenue of Tata companies was $110.7 billion.
Ratan N Tata: Ratan N Tata was the Chairman and one of the two promoter holding companies of the Tata Group. He had been in his position from 1991 to 2012. He was also leading the major companies of Tata Group like Tata Steel, TCs, Tata Motors, Indian Hotels and more.
He again became the interim Chairman of TATA Group from 2016-2017.
Natarajan Chandrasekaran: Natarajan Chandrasekaran is the Chairman and additional director of the company. He joined the board of Tata Sons in October 2016 and was appointed as the company chairperson in 2017. He also chairs the Boards of the different group operating companies like Tata Steel, Indian Hotels Company Limited, etc.
In board of directors, the company has N Chandrasekaran, Farida Khambata, Venu Srinivasan, Ajay Piramal, Dr Ralf Speth, Bhaskar Bhat, Harish Manwani, and Saurabh Awarwal.
The Management Team has N Chandrasekaran, Saurabh Awarwal, Banmali Agarwala, Aarthi Subramanian, Shuva Mandal, and Harish Bhat.
An entrepreneur and philanthropist, Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata had established Tata Group as a private trading firm in 1868. In 1902, the group incorporated the Indian Hotels Company to commission the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower; it was the first luxury hotel in the country.
In 1904, Jamsetji died and his son, Sir Dorab Tata took over as chair of the company. Under the guidance and leadership of Dorab, the group grew quickly, venturing into different industry segments like steel (1907), electricity (1910), education (1911), consumer goods (1917), and aviation (1932).
In 1932, when Dorab died, Sir Nowroji Saklatwala took the position. After six years, Jahangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata became the group's chair. He took the company's expansion on many new sectors including chemicals (1939), cosmetics (1952), marketing, engineering and manufacturing (1954), tea (1962) and software services (1968).
In 1945, Tata Group added another start in their sky by establishing Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company; it was renamed as Tata Motors in the year 2003. This company is involved in manufacturing engineering and locomotive products.
In 1991, Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata (JRD Tata) was succeeded by his nephew, Ratan Tata. Ratan Tata aggressively sought to expand the company and increasingly he focussed on taking the business on the global level.
The group acquired London-based Tetley Tea in 2000 and purchased the truck-manufacturing operations of South Korea's Daewoo Motors in 2004. To create the insurance company Tata-AIG in 2001, the group partnered with American International Group, Inc.
In 2007, Tata Group acquired the giant Anglo-Dutch steel manufacturer Corus Group and completed the biggest corporate takeover by an Indian company.
Next year, it ventured into the automotive industry. On January 10, 2008, Tata Motors accomplished one more milestone when it launched the Nano, a tiny, rear-engine, pod-shaped vehicle. In July 2009, the first Nano hit the road in India.
In 2008, Tata Group bought the elite British brands Jaguar and Land Rover from the Ford Motor Company. In 2012, Ratan Tata got retirement and Cyrus Mistry took the position.
But in October 2016, Mistry was abruptly dismissed as chairman due to the disagreements with members of the Tata Family regarding business strategy.
Again, Ratan came to his position on an interim basis. In January 2017, Natarajan Chandrasekaran was appointed to the position and Ratan Tata's second stint as chairman came to end.
In September 2017, the Tata Group announced that it will merge its European steelmaking operations with German steelmaker, ThyssenKrupp. In 2018, the deal was finalized, making Europe's second-biggest steel company; ArcelorMittal is on the first position.
Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd. is the parent company of the Tata Group. It owns most of the shares in Tata companies and their properties like tea estates and steel plants all over India.
It's a private company with around 100 different businesses under it, including chemicals, consumer products, energy, engineering, information systems, materials, and services. Tata Sons is headquartered in Mumbai.
Originally, Tata Sons started as a trading company in 1917, dealing mainly with opium and tea trade with Mongolia and China. Later on, it became the main company that holds all the others in the Tata Group.
About 66% of Tata Sons is owned by charitable trusts set up by the Tata family, like the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust that supports education, livelihood generation, health, art and culture. Tata Sons also owns the rights to the TATA name and trademarks, which are protected in India and many other countries. It's one of the biggest conglomerates in India.
The trusts also support non-government organizations working in the areas of education, healthcare, and livelihoods. It also supports different types of social welfare initiatives.
The major companies under the Tata Group are Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Chemicals, Tata Consumer Products, Titan, Tata Capital, Tata Power, Tata Advanced Systems, Indian Hotels Company, and Tata Communications.
TATA STEEL
Tata Steel Limited, formerly known as Tata Iron and Steel Company Limited (TISCO), is an Indian multinational steel-making company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, with its main manufacturing facility in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Established by Dorabji Tata on 26 August 1907, Tata Steel is the most important subsidiary of Tata Group.
It is one of the largest steel producers globally, with a yearly crude steel capacity of 35 million tonnes. Operating in 26 countries, Tata Steel employs approximately 80,500 people.
In 2007, it acquired the UK-based steelmaker Corus, making it one of the world's most geographically diversified steel producers. With a consolidated turnover of US$31 billion in the financial year ending March 2023, Tata Steel is the largest steel company in India by domestic production.
The company has weathered attempts at nationalization and has a strong focus on labor welfare, offering various benefits to its employees since its inception. Tata Steel has expanded through acquisitions, including NatSteel in 2004, Millennium Steel in 2005, Corus in 2006, Tayo Rolls in 2008, and others. Notably, it was included in the World Economic Forum's Global Lighthouse Network in 2019.
Tata Steel is known for its contributions to sports development in India and serves a wide range of industries, including automotive, construction, consumer goods, engineering, and more.
TATA MOTORS
Tata Motors Limited, headquartered in Mumbai, is an Indian multinational automotive company and a part of the Tata Group. It manufactures cars, trucks, vans, and buses.
Its key subsidiaries include British Jaguar Land Rover and South Korean Tata Daewoo. Notably, Tata Motors has joint ventures with Hitachi (Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery) and Stellantis. In October 2021, TPG invested $1 billion in Tata Motors' electric vehicle subsidiary.
Tata Motors operates manufacturing and vehicle plants across India, Argentina, South Africa, the UK, and Thailand. It's listed on the BSE, NSE of India, and the New York Stock Exchange, ranking 265th on the Fortune Global 500 list.
Established in 1945, Tata Motors began with locomotive manufacturing and entered the commercial vehicle sector in 1954 through a joint venture with Daimler-Benz. Over the years, it diversified into passenger vehicles, launching models like the Tata Sierra, Tata Sumo, and Tata Safari.
In the 2000s, Tata Motors made significant acquisitions and partnerships, expanding its global presence. Today, it has vehicle assembly operations worldwide, with plans for further expansion in Turkey, Indonesia, and Eastern Europe. With a focus on innovation and strategic collaborations, Tata Motors continues to be a major player in the automotive industry, aiming for growth and sustainability.
TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES
Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS), an Indian multinational IT services and consulting company headquartered in Mumbai, operates in 150 locations across 46 countries.
It's a part of the Tata Group and is the world's second-largest IT service brand. As of September 2023, it employed over 616,000 people worldwide and held the second-largest market capitalization among Indian companies.
Founded in 1968, TCS has a rich history of pioneering IT solutions, including India's first dedicated software R&D center and client-dedicated offshore development centers. Over the years, it has expanded globally and diversified its services, entering markets like bioinformatics and cloud-based solutions.
TCS has consistently achieved significant milestones, such as surpassing Reliance Industries as India's most profitable firm in 2015 and becoming the world's most valuable IT company in 2020 and 2021. With its focus on innovation and strategic partnerships, TCS continues to lead the way in the IT industry, recently securing a contract for the Aadhaar digital ID program in India.
TATA CHEMICALS
Tata Chemicals Limited, an Indian multinational corporation headquartered in Mumbai, operates in chemicals, crop protection, and specialty chemistry products.
It's a part of the Tata Group and trades on the NSE and BSE. Tata Chemicals has significant soda ash production capacity in India, including a plant built in 1944 in Mithapur, Gujarat.
Over the years, it acquired Brunner Mond in the UK, General Chemicals in the US, and a stake in an ammonia-urea fertilizer complex in Gabon. In 2016, it sold its urea business to Yara India.
In 2019, Tata Group transferred its branded food business to Tata Consumer Products. In 2022, Tata Chemicals Europe established the UK's first industrial-scale carbon capture and usage plant, capable of capturing 40,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
TATA CONSUMER PRODUCTS
Tata Consumer Products, a prominent Indian fast-moving consumer goods company and part of the Tata Group, is a major player in the global tea and coffee industry. Formerly known as Tata Global Beverages Limited, it rebranded as Tata Consumer Products Limited after merging with Tata Chemicals in 2020.
Established in 1983, Tata Tea quickly transitioned into consumer branding, introducing iconic brands like Tata Tea, Kannan Devan, and Chakra Gold. In 2000, Tata Tea made headlines with the acquisition of Tetley, a renowned British tea company, marking its foray into the global market.
The company's diverse portfolio includes Tata Salt, Tetley, Eight O'Clock Coffee, and Tata Starbucks. It also operates Tata SmartFoodz and recently acquired brands like Ching's Secret and Organic India.
Tata Consumer Products owns and manages numerous tea estates across India and Sri Lanka, producing a substantial portion of the world's tea supply. With a global presence in over 50 countries, it remains a pioneer in the FMCG sector, catering to diverse consumer preferences worldwide.
TITAN
Titan Company Limited, a renowned Indian brand and part of the Tata Group, specializes in luxury fashion accessories such as jewellery, watches, and eyewear. Established in 1984 as Titan Watches Limited, the company quickly diversified into jewellery with Tanishq and eyewear with Titan Eyeplus. Over the years, it has expanded its portfolio to include brands like Fastrack for youth fashion accessories.
With its corporate headquarters in Bangalore, Titan is a major player in India's jewellery market, boasting a 6% market share as of 2022. It's also among the world's top five watch manufacturers. Titan's diverse range of products includes watches under brands like Fastrack, Sonata, and Tommy Hilfiger; eyewear through Titan Eye Plus; and jewellery brands such as Tanishq and Mia.
In recent years, Titan has ventured into the wearable devices market with products like smartwatches and fitness trackers under brands like Juxt and Fastrack. The company has also made strategic investments, such as acquiring a stake in US-based CueZen in 2023.
Titan's subsidiaries and affiliate companies include Titan Engineering & Automation Limited, Favre Leuba, CaratLane, and Montblanc India Retail Private Limited. Through these ventures, Titan continues to expand its presence in the luxury fashion industry, both in India and internationally.
TITAN
Tata Capital Limited, based in Mumbai, is a leading financial and investment service provider in India with over 100 branches nationwide. Established in 2007 as a subsidiary of Tata Sons Limited, it offers a wide range of services including consumer loans, wealth management, commercial finance, and infrastructure finance.
As a holding company for Tata Capital Financial Services Limited (TCFSL), Tata Securities Limited, and Tata Capital Housing Finance Limited, Tata Capital plays a crucial role in the financial services sector. Registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as a Systematically Important Deposit Accepting Non-Banking Financial Company, it offers services like commercial finance, investment banking, private equity, and credit cards.
Tata Capital serves diverse clientele including corporate, retail, and institutional customers through its subsidiary TCFSL. Currently, there's growing anticipation in the market as Tata Capital prepares for its upcoming IPO.
TATA POWER
Tata Power Company Limited, a part of Tata Group, is an Indian electricity generation and utility company headquartered in Mumbai. It's India's largest integrated power company, with a total installed capacity of 14,110 MW, including 5,250 MW from green energy sources. In 2017, Tata Power made history by shipping over 1 GW of solar modules.
Established in 1910 as the Tata Hydroelectric Power Supply Company, it merged with the Andhra Valley Power Supply Company in 1916. Tata Power's operations span across India, Singapore, Indonesia, South Africa, Zambia, Georgia, Mauritius, and Bhutan.
Tata Power major subsidiaries include Tata Power Solar, Nelco Limited, Maithon Power, Tata Power Delhi Dist. Ltd, TP Central Odisha Dist. Ltd, TP Western Odisha Dist. Ltd and TP Northern Odisha Dist. Ltd.
Tata Power serves over one million consumers in North Delhi and has a distribution company in Ajmer, Rajasthan. In Rajasthan, it solely produces green energy, with 445 MW of solar energy and 185 MW of wind energy, totaling 630 MW in green energy generation.
TATA ADVANCED SYSTEMS
Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) is an Indian aerospace and defense technology company, wholly owned by Tata Sons, the parent company of Tata Group. It deals in six major areas including UAVs, missiles, radars, aerospace, and homeland security.
In collaboration with partners like Sikorsky, Lockheed Martin, and Airbus Defence and Space, TASL manufactures aircraft components and complete aircraft such as Sikorsky S-92 helicopters and Lockheed C-130 Hercules. They also produce structures for aircraft like Pilatus PC-12NG and F-16 fighter jets.
TASL's ventures include Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL), which produces fuselages for Boeing's AH-64 Apache helicopters, and acquisitions like Tata Power SED in 2020. They've also acquired intellectual property rights for aircraft development, like the Grob G180 SPn for military use.
In partnership with Lockheed Martin, they're meeting the Indian Navy's Naval Utility Helicopter (NUH) requirement. Additionally, TASL will produce C-295 Cargo aircraft for India following a deal signed in 2021.
INDIAN HOTELS
The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) is an Indian hospitality firm that oversees a variety of accommodations such as hotels, resorts, safaris, palaces, spas, and even in-flight catering services. IHCL was set up in 1902 by Jamsetji Tata and is based in Mumbai, where its famous Taj Mahal Palace Hotel stands.
Their hotel brands include Taj, SeleQtions, Vivanta, and Ginger. The company has a portfolio of 263 hotels including 75 under development globally across 4 continents, 12 countries and in over 100 locations
IHCL was established by Jamsetji Tata in 1899 and officially registered in 1902. Their first landmark was The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, which opened in 1903, boasting modern features like elevators and Russian carpets. It was also the first hotel to have electricity in the British India.
In 1980, they expanded internationally with hotels in Yemen and Zambia. They later entered Sri Lanka, the Middle East, and ventured into joint ventures like Taj GVK. Taj Hotels also began operating in the aviation sector through TajSATS Air Catering.
Over the years, IHCL underwent branding changes, merging brands like Vivanta and Gateway into Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris, though this was later reversed. They continued to expand, opening locations in Saudi Arabia and launching new brands like SeleQtions. In 2019, they partnered with Singapore's GIC Private Limited to acquire hotel assets worth $600 million.
In 2024, IHCL announced ambitious plans to open over 90 new properties.
TATA COMMUNICATIONS
Tata Communications, previously called Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited, is an Indian telecom company. Originally owned by the government, it became part of Tata Group in 2008. They offer various network services like Ethernet, SD-WAN, and internet connections. They're also listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India.
After government disinvestment, Tata Group fully acquired VSNL in 2008, renaming it Tata Communications.
They expanded their global network, completing projects like the TGN-Intra Asia cable system in 2009 and connecting Europe to India via Egypt in 2012.
Their services include ethernet, private lines, content delivery networks, security, and cloud services. They've also acquired companies like Kaleyra to enhance their offerings. With data centers in 44 locations worldwide, Tata Communications is a major player in the telecom industry.
The Tata Group has played a significant role in supporting various research, educational, and cultural initiatives in India, earning recognition such as the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. Some of the notable institutions established or supported by the Tata Group include, Indian Institute of Science, The JRD Tata Ecotechnology Centre, Tata Medical Center, Tata Memorial Hospital, and Tata Cancer Hospital.
Moreover, the Tata Group has made significant financial contributions to various educational institutions globally. For instance, in 2008, it donated US$50 million to Cornell University for agricultural and nutrition programs in India and the education of Indian students. In 2010, the group donated INR 2.20 billion (US$50 million) to Harvard Business School for building academic and residential facilities. In 2017, Tata Trusts gifted US$70 million to the University of California, San Diego, for establishing the Tata Institute for Genetics and Society. Additionally, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) made a substantial US$35 million grant to Carnegie Mellon University in 2017 to promote next-generation technologies.
Tata Group has also made significant donations towards combating the COVID-19 pandemic, including a contribution of INR 15 billion to the PM Cares Fund in 2020.
Tata Group of Companies has always been a very value-driven organization. And these values have guided them to gain success over the years. The five core values, which define Tata Sons Ltd, are excellence, integrity, pioneering, responsibility and lastly unity.
Their motto is "Leadership with Trust". They trust in the long-term value creation of all their global stakeholders.
Cutting-edge innovation, a great focus on quality, sustainable operations and business perfection are the trademarks of the trust the Tata name is best known for.
Tata Group encompasses an extensive array of companies spanning various sectors and industries, showcasing its diverse portfolio and global presence:
Tata Chemicals
Rallis India Limited (agricultural research)
Brunner Mond
British Salt
Magadi Soda Company
Tata Swach
Tata Communications
VSNL International Canada
Tata Communications Payment Solutions Limited
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
Computational Research Laboratories
C-Edge Technologies
Tata Elxsi
Tata Technologies
Tata Consumer Products
Tata Coffee
Tetley
Tata Salt
Tata Starbucks
Titan Company
Tata Cliq
Tata Motors
Tata Motors Cars
Jaguar Land Rover
Tata Daewoo
Tata Hispano
Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery
Tata Marcopolo
Tata Power
Tata Power Solar
Maithon Power
Tata Power Delhi Dist Ltd
TP Central, Western, and Northern Odisha Dist Ltd
Nelco Ltd
TP South Odisha Dist Limited
Tata Steel
Tata Steel Netherlands (TSN)
Tata Steel UK
Tata Steel BSL
Tata Bearings
Tata Sponge Iron Ltd
Tata Tinplate
Tata Metaliks Ltd
Tata Pigments
Indian Hotels Company Limited
Taj Hotels
Vivanta
Ginger Hotels
The Pierre
Benares Hotels
Voltas (home appliances)
Infiniti Retail Cromā
Tata Play
Tata Digital
Tata Capital
Tata Asset Management
Tata Mutual Fund
Tata Investment Corp
Tata AIG
Tata AIA
Tata AIA Life Insurance
Air India
AirAsia India
Air India Express
Vistara
Taj Air
Tata Advanced Systems
Tata Power SED
Tata Projects Ltd
Tejas Networks
Tata Housing Development Company
Tata Value Homes Limited
Tata Realty & Infrastructure
Tata Industries
Tata CLiQ
Tata Medical Centre, Kolkata
The Energy and Resources Institute
Kohli Center for Intelligent Systems
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Tata Management Training Centre
Tata Memorial Hospital
Tata Ecotechnology Centre
Apprentice Training School, Tata Chemicals Mithapur
Jamshedpur FC (football club)
National Centre for Performing Arts
Indian Institute of Science
Nettur Technical Training Foundation R D Tata Technical Education Centre Jamshedpur
Tata Institute for Genetics and Society
Get The CEO Magazine to your Door Steps; Subscribe Now
