It is extremely surprising that the Indian salt-to-software conglomerate Tata Sons has ousted Cyrus Mistry as chairman and restored Ratan Tata to the position while it seeks a permanent replacement. We need visionaries to lead the group. Tata Sons is the main holding company of the group. After taking charge, he had to face some challenging situations such as the decision to sell Tata Steel UK in the wake of mounting losses. Tata Sons Chairmanship is not a place for one to cut his teeth. In India, Tatas have symbolized high professionalism all these years. During the stewardship of Ratan Tata, there was considerable expansion as well. Tata Sons ought to have given time to this young man or guided him on decisions by constituting a committee earlier.
Ratan Tata was not the best qualified person when he took over. Lot of capable people were overlooked when he became the Chairman. He is a visionary and he has elevated senior people to the level of Managing Directors of various groups simply because he was able to see they were competent and could do the job. He is approachable and has indepth expertise. Ratan Tata’s return to the helm is perhaps the most fitting move to protect and embellish the value architecture Tata Group. Let us hope Ratan will stand by only right things for the company and the country as well, everything will be for the best.
Vinod C. Dixit
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
