Topline

Ratan Tata – a former chairman of the Tata Group who led the Indian mega-company through several major international acquisitions – died at the age of 86, the group announced on Wednesday.

Key facts

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Crucial quote

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Tata as “a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being,” in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter. “He provided stable leadership to one of India’s oldest and most prestigious business houses… He endeared himself to several people through his humility, kindness and unwavering commitment to making our society a better place.”

Big number

$165 billion. That’s the amount of revenue the Tata Group said it brought in in the 2023-2024 financial year across its businesses, which employed more than a million people.

Important background

Founded in 1868, the Tata Group is now one of India’s largest conglomerates, comprising more than 30 companies across 10 industries and operating in more than 100 countries. In 2005, he was named Forbes’ Asian Businessman of the Year and was praised for more than doubling his company’s revenue over a decade and propelling it into the modern business world. Tata stepped down from his role as chairman of the group in 2012, but was given the title of “chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, Tata Motors, Tata Steel and Tata Chemicals,” according to India’s Business Today. After stepping down, he briefly returned in 2016 to serve as interim CEO, the BBC reported. Reuters first reported on Wednesday that Tata was in intensive care at a hospital in Mumbai, after the company said earlier this week that he had been admitted for routine checks. In a post on his own social media, Tata on Monday thanked people for their concern about him and confirmed that he was undergoing regular checkups due to his age and “related medical conditions.”

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BBCIndian tycoon Ratan Tata dies at the age of 86ReutersRatan Tata, former chairman of the Tata Group, dies at the age of 86