N Chandrasekaran has stepped down as chairman of Tata Sons, citing the lack of unanimous support for extending his tenure beyond February 2027.
In a statement, Chandrasekaran said Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust had unanimously recommended extending his term for another five years. The proposal was subsequently endorsed by the Tata Sons Nomination and Remuneration Committee and the board before being placed before the Tata Sons board on February 24, 2026.
However, the resolution did not receive unanimous support, with one board member opposing the extension. Chandrasekaran said that, in the absence of consensus, he chose to defer the decision and has now decided to step down.
The development comes amid reported differences between Tata Sons and Tata Trusts over board representation, group strategy and the proposed exit of minority shareholder Shapoorji Pallonji Group. Reports have also pointed to differences between Chandrasekaran and Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata over his continuation as Tata Sons chairman.
Chandrasekaran's tenure at the helm of Tata Sons began in 2017. He joined the Tata Group in 1987 and went on to become CEO and managing director of Tata Consultancy Services in 2009 before taking over as chairman of Tata Sons.
During his tenure, the conglomerate navigated several major challenges and strategic shifts, including the Air India acquisition, pressure on TCS, and disruptions affecting Jaguar Land Rover.
Tata Sons is the principal holding company of the Tata Group, whose businesses span technology, automobiles, steel, aviation, defence, electronics and semiconductors, among other sectors.
