The reappointment coincides with rumors of a split among the trustees, with some allegedly siding with Mistry and others with Noel Tata, who took over as chairman upon Ratan Tata’s death.
According to PTI, Tata Trusts overwhelmingly reappointed Venu Srinivasan as a trustee for life, turning the focus to Mehli Mistry, whose current tenure is about to expire.
The reappointment coincides with rumors of a split among the trustees over their terms, with some factions allegedly siding with Mistry, who is seen as a loyalist to the previous doyen, and others with Noel Tata, who took over as chairman upon Ratan Tata’s passing. He is also linked to the Shapoorji Pallonji family, who own around 18% of Tata Sons, the company that owns the software and salt companies.
This week was considered to be the last day of Srinivasan’s employment with Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, one of the two principal trusts that have the greatest stake in Tata Sons. But according to a source cited by PTI, he was unanimously reappointed as a lifelong trustee.
In addition, he is a nominated director on the Tata Sons board and a trustee at the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, another fundamental trust.
Now, the focus is on Mistry, who is purportedly at the core of the conflict inside the Tata Trusts. A circular requesting Mistry’s reappointment is anticipated later this week, since his current term at the two primary trusts expires on October 28, according to a Business Standard story.
However, all trustees must agree to the reappointment or renewal procedure. According to the article, even one objection may prevent the reappointment.
However, PTI said that all trustees are subject to reappointments, which are often automatic. According to the resolution enacted last year, the concerned trust would nominate the trustees again once their terms ended, with no time restriction.
Rejecting a trustee’s term at renewal has not happened yet. In January 2025, Noel Tata joined the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust as a life trustee, marking his last reappointment at Tata Trusts. At the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, he also serves as a life trustee.
Businessman Mehli Mistry, banker Pramit Jhaveri, former bureaucrat Vijay Singh, entrepreneur Venu Srinivasan, senior attorney Darius Khambata, and Noel Tata are on the board of trustees of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. Noel Tata, Srinivasan, Singh, Mistry, Khambata, Jehangir HC Jehangir, chairman of Jehangir Hospital in Pune, and Jimmy N. Tata, Ratan Tata’s younger brother, are trustees on the board of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust.