Table of Contents
Introduction
The Tata family has so many hidden faces that people don’t know about. One such Tata family member is Simone Tata, Ratan Tata’s stepmother, and Noel Tata’s mother.
Simone Tata’s journey from Switzerland to India, her pivotal role in shaping the Lakme brand, and her subsequent triumphs with Tata Industries and Trent Limited illustrate her as a resilient businesswoman. Her contribution to the Tata Group’s success is commendable, serving as an inspiration for individuals globally. Simone Tata’s story reinforces the notion that with dedication and hard work, one can script their success story, regardless of their place of birth.
Simone Tata
Simone Naval Tata, a Swiss-born business magnate, embarked on a transformative journey that led her from being a tourist in India to steering businesses worth Rs 70,000 crore. Born in Geneva in 1930, Simone’s life took a dramatic turn during her visit to India in 1953 when she met Naval Tata, whom she later married in 1955. This article delves into Simone Tata’s extraordinary success story, from her early days to becoming a key figure in the Tata family.
Simone Tata’s journey to India
Simone Tata completed her graduation at Geneva University before her serendipitous visit to India. The encounter with Naval Tata marked a turning point, prompting her permanent shift to India. Marrying Naval Tata in 1955, Simone became an integral part of the Tata family, eventually serving as a stepmother to Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata.
Professional Journey
Simone Tata’s foray into business commenced in 1962 when she joined the Lakme board. At that time, Lakme was a subsidiary of Tata Oil Mills. Rapidly ascending within the company, she became the managing director in 1961 and assumed the role of chairperson in 1982. Under her leadership, Lakme transformed into a leading cosmetics brand, setting the stage for Simone’s influential role in the business world.
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Simone Tata’s influence extended beyond Lakme. She served as the Non-Executive Chairman of Trent Limited until October 30, 2006, contributing significantly to its growth. Recognizing the potential in the retail sector, Simone strategically sold the Lakme brand to Hindustan Unilever Limited in 1996, using the proceeds to bolster Trent Limited’s position in the market.
Trent Limited
Trent Limited, with a current market capitalization of $7.68 billion, stands as a testament to Simone Tata’s legacy. Under her guidance, Trent Limited birthed various successful brands such as Landmark, a renowned bookstore, Westside, a prominent fashion brand, and Judio, a Tata brand known for affordable fashion. Simone Tata’s astute business decisions turned Trent Limited into a major player in India’s retail market.
Social work
She is also the chairman of the Sir Ratan Tata Institute (the home of traditional Parsi cuisine) and a trustee of Children of the World India (CWI), a recognized public charitable organization linked with Enfants du Monde of France. Its purpose is to reach out to the most disadvantaged and marginalized members of society, particularly children and women, regardless of social, religious, racial, cultural, or political beliefs.
Simone Tata was also a trustee of the India Foundation for the Arts, which supports creative projects, commissions research, and creates public platforms to deepen the practice and knowledge of, broaden public access to, and strengthen capacities and infrastructure in the arts in India.