In a significant internal development, Mehli Mistry, a long-time confidant of Ratan Tata, is facing uncertainty over his position within the Tata Trusts. According to a report by The Economic Times (ET), chairman Noel Tata, vice chairman Venu Srinivasan, and trustee Vijay Singh have reportedly withheld approval for extending Mistry’s term signaling the likely end of his association with the trusts.
Sources told ET’s Kala Vijayraghavan and Sagar Malviya that the move effectively concludes Mistry’s role in the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) and Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) two principal charitable arms that collectively hold 51% of Tata Sons, while the broader Tata Trusts group controls 66% ownership.
Majority Verdict Ends Mehli Mistry’s Tenure
At the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, trustees include Noel Tata, Venu Srinivasan, Vijay Singh, Mehli Mistry, Pramit Jhaveri, and Darius Khambata. Meanwhile, the Sir Ratan Tata Trust board consists of Noel Tata, Venu Srinivasan, Vijay Singh, Jimmy Tata, Jehangir HC Jehangir, Mehli Mistry, and Darius Khambata.
Since Mistry was ineligible to vote on his own renewal, the opposition from three trustees constitutes a majority decision against his continuation. At the SRTT, the absence of Jimmy Tata, who often misses meetings, further tilted the balance toward Mistry’s exit.
Timing Mirrors 2016 Cyrus Mistry Ouster
In a striking coincidence, Mehli Mistry’s removal comes in October the same month in 2016 when his late cousin Cyrus Mistry was dismissed as Tata Sons chairman, a move that shook India’s corporate world.
The trustees reportedly conveyed their verdict late Thursday night and early Friday morning, after Tata Trusts CEO Siddharth Sharma proposed Mistry’s three-year term renewal last week.
While trustees Darius Khambata, Pramit Jhaveri, and Jehangir Jehangir supported the renewal, the absence of unanimous consent sealed Mistry’s fate marking another major transition within the prestigious Tata ecosystem.
Tata Trusts Breaks Tradition of Unanimous Decisions
Historically, the Tata Trusts have required unanimous approval for major resolutions. However, this tradition was first broken in September last year, when trustees voted by majority to remove former defence secretary Vijay Singh as nominee director on Tata Sons’ board a move that exposed internal divisions within India’s most respected philanthropic foundation.
As per the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust deed (1932), a quorum requires at least three trustees, and “the decision of a majority of trustees present at a meeting shall bind the minority.”
Following Ratan Tata’s passing, trustees met on October 17 to reaffirm their commitment to the founders’ principles and resolved that trustees would be reappointed for life, though the process for implementing this decision remains unclear.
Mehli Mistry’s Business Interests and Tata Connections
Beyond his role at the Trusts, Mehli Mistry is the promoter of the M Pallonji Group, which operates across industrial painting, shipping, dredging, and automobile dealerships. The group maintains strong business ties with Tata companies including Tata Steel, Tata Power, and Tata Nyk Shipping. Its subsidiary, Sterling Motors, functions as a Tata Motors dealership.
Mistry also serves as a trustee of Breach Candy Hospital Trust, which received a ₹500 crore donation from the Tata Group for infrastructure upgrades.
Despite being distantly related to the late Cyrus Mistry and Shapoorji Mistry of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, Mehli’s business and family links have often intertwined with the larger Tata legacy. The SP Group, which owns 18.37% of Tata Sons, has long been pushing for the company’s public listing to address debt and improve liquidity.
What Lies Ahead for Tata Trusts
The non-renewal of Mehli Mistry’s term signals another power shift within the Tata Trusts, coming at a time when the organization navigates leadership transitions and governance reforms. With majority voting now setting new precedents, the Trusts’ once-unified front may continue to face internal realignments in the post-Ratan Tata era.
