Noel Tata’s three children on five Tata Trusts' board seats

As a move to infuse young blood into the experienced leadership of Tata Trusts, the organization overseeing the $150-billion Tata Group, Noel Tata's three children have been appointed to the boards of its five philanthropic organizations.

Leah (39), Maya (36) and Neville (32) have been made trustees of five Trusts - affiliates of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust, the primary entities within Tata Trusts. These five Trusts own a stake in Tata Sons, the holding company of the salt-to-software conglomerate. Noel, Ratan Tata's half-brother, is the chairman of Tata Group companies like Trent and Voltas and a trustee of Tata Trusts.

This represents the inaugural occasion where six members of the Tata family are actively involved with the Trusts. Jimmy Tata, the younger brother of Ratan Tata, holds positions on the boards of Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Bai Hirabai J N Tata Navsari Charitable Institution, and Sarvajanik Seva Trust. Meanwhile, Noel Tata is affiliated with Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Sir Ratan Tata Trust, JN Tata Endowment, and Bai Hirabai JN Tata Navsari Charitable Institution.

According to TOI sources, involving the millennial generation in smaller Trusts will groom them for more substantial responsibilities and promising roles within the broader Tata ecosystem, potentially including board positions in operating companies.

These appointments also signify a change at the 132-year-old Trusts, which have traditionally been overseen by experienced individuals. Leah, Maya, and Neville have held managerial roles in different Tata operating companies and will retain these positions while taking on trusteeship responsibilities.

Leah serves on Tata Education Trust, Tata Social Welfare Trust, and Sarvajanik Trust. Maya's portfolio includes RD Tata Trust, Tata Education Trust, and Sarvajanik Trust. Neville joins the ranks of JRD Tata Trust, RD Tata Trust, and Tata Social Welfare Trust. Furthermore, Neville has been named to the board of Tata Indian Institute of Skills, a non-profit training organization formed by Tata Education and Development Trust, Tata Sons, and the government.

These appointments follow Leah, Maya, and Neville's induction onto the board of Tata Medical Centre Trust, which oversees a cancer hospital in Kolkata, two years ago. Approved by Tata Trusts chairman Ratan Tata, their new roles took effect on May 6.

Leah, a graduate of IE Business School in Madrid, Spain, has predominantly served with the Indian Hotels Company, which operates the Taj chain, save for a brief internship with Louis Vuitton in 2010.

Maya, who completed her studies at Bayes Business School and the University of Warwick in the UK, boasts experience across multiple Tata companies, currently contributing to the revamp of Tata Digital.

Neville, the youngest sibling, who is also a graduate of Bayes Business School, is associated with Trent. This company, established by his grandmother Simone and overseen by his father, owns Westside and Zudio.

(With TOI inputs)