Ratan Tata was born on December 28, 1937, in Mumbai to Naval and Sooni Tata. He received his early education at Campion School and John Connon School.
He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Cornell University in 1962, and later earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1975.
He was involved in a number of Tata Group businesses and in 1971, he was named the Director of National Radio and Electronics Company Ltd.(NELCO).
In 1977, he became the director of Empress Mill, a struggling Tata Group unit. The mill shut down after executives at the firm rejected Ratan Tata’s proposal for the revival of the firm.
In 1991, Ratan Tata succeeded his uncle, J.R.D. Tata, and became the chairman of the Tata Group.
Upon taking the reins of Tata Group, Ratan Tata began expanding the conglomerate through acquisitions such as UK-based Tetley Tea in 2000, Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Company in 2004, among others.
Under Ratan Tata’s leadership, Tata Steel in 2007 undertook the biggest corporate takeover by an Indian company as it acquired Corus Group, an Anglo-Dutch steel manufacturer for $11.3 billion.
In 2008, Tata Motors purchase of Jaguar and Land Rover for $2.3 billion marked the largest-ever acquisition by an Indian automotive firm. Tata Group has also invested in a multitude of startups under his leadership.
In 2009, Tata Motors launched the Tata Nano. Priced at approximately ₹1 lakh, or $2,000, it was advertised as the world’s most affordable car. However, it was a commercial failure, which led to its discontinuation in 2018.
Ratan Tata retired as the chairman of Tata Group in December 2012 although he did serve as the interim chairman of the conglomerate from 2016 to 2017. He is currently chairman emeritus of Tata Group.
Ratan Tata was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008.