Ratan Tata

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Ratan Tata
Born	28 December 1937
Birth place	Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India (now Mumbai, Maharashtra, India)
Nationality	Indian
Education	B.Arch, Cornell University Advanced Management Program, Harvard Business School
Occupation	Industrialist, Philanthropist
Known for	Former Chairman of Tata Sons, Tata Trusts, Philanthropy, Ethical Leadership
Website	[Tata Group Official website]

Ratan Naval Tata (born 28 December 1937) is an Indian industrialist, philanthropist, and former chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, India’s largest conglomerate. Under his leadership, the Tata Group expanded globally and introduced iconic products like the Tata Nano car and Tata Indica. He is widely respected for his ethical business practices and philanthropy.

Early Life and Education

Ratan Tata was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, into the prominent Tata family. He is the great-grandson of Jamsetji Tata, founder of the Tata Group. He attended the Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai and graduated with a degree in architecture from Cornell University in 1962. Later, he completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 1975.

Career

Ratan Tata began his career in the Tata Group working on the shop floor of Tata Steel. Over the years, he held various roles across different Tata companies, gaining a deep understanding of the business.

In 1991, he was appointed chairman of Tata Industries and in 1999 became chairman of Tata Sons. During his tenure, the group expanded internationally with acquisitions like Tetley Tea, Jaguar Land Rover, and Corus Steel. He also spearheaded the development of the Tata Nano, an affordable compact car designed for the Indian market.

Ratan Tata stepped down as chairman in 2012 but remains chairman emeritus of Tata Sons and continues to influence the conglomerate's philanthropic initiatives.

Philanthropy

Ratan Tata is known for his generous philanthropic work through the Tata Trusts, which focus on healthcare, education, rural development, and arts. He has also supported numerous charitable causes personally and promoted ethical leadership in Indian industry.

Awards and Recognition

• Padma Bhushan (2000), one of India’s highest civilian awards.
• Padma Vibhushan (2008), the second-highest civilian award.
• Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) (2009).
• Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy (2015).
• Included in Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world.