Noel gets bigger role, named to Voltas board

Noel Tata, Ratan Tata's half-brother and managing director of retailing company Trent, has been appointed a director of group engineering major Voltas. This is Noel's first board appointment in a company he does not manage.

Noel's appointment will take the board strength of Voltas to 10. An executive pointed out that the board had been expanded and Noel had not replaced anyone.

Noel, son of Naval and Simone Tata, is the son-in-law of Shapoorji Mistry, Tata Sons' single largest shareholder. Asked about a successor in an interview to Business Standard last year, Ratan Tata had said: "Young people like Noel will get the chance to prove themselves."

Group officials say Noel has begun to take an active interest in group activities. At Voltas, he will be assisted by chairman Ishaat Hussain, a key member of Ratan Tata's executive office, which oversees group restructuring activity.

Noel cut his teeth at Tata International, where he was general manager in charge of textiles. His success prompted a shift to Lakme, the cosmetics company of the group, where his mother Simone was the chairman, a senior Tata Sons director said.

Subsequently, the Lakme brand and its business were sold to Hindustan Lever and Trent diversified into retailing under the Westside brand. At present, Noel is working on an expansion plan for Trent, as well as on a foray into food retailing.

In line with the group's retirement policy, Ratan Tata relinquished his executive position at Tata Sons in December last year on turning 65. However, he is still the non-executive chairman, and is expected to step down in December 2007. The name of his successor is likely to be finalised before that.