Keeping time with the Tatas

THE IIT MADRAS AND IIM AHMEDABAD ALUMNUS IS WIDELY CREDITED WITH TRANSFORMING TITAN FROM A WATCHMAKER TO A LIFESTYLE COMPANY

- VIVEAT SUSAN PINTO

INTHE TATA universe, former Titan Managing Director Bhaskar Bhat is an insider.The 71-year-old retail veteran was backin the spotlight this week when he was inducted (along with Neville Tata) as a trustee of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT), among the largest philanthropic entities of the Tata group.

SDTT has a nearly 27.98% stake in Tata Sons, the holding company of the salt-to-software conglomerate, making it the largest shareholder among the Tata Trusts. Sir Ratan Tata Trust, another important trust, has a 23.56% stake in Tata Sons. Together, the two trusts own more than 51% of Tata Sons, making Bhat’s appointment, which is for a three-year tenure, critical.

He is also the first among Tata group veterans to be tapped by Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata (as trustees) as the latter looks to consolidafe his position within the group, experts said, a year after Ratan Tata’s demise. Bhat arjd Neville Tata’s appointment jo SDTT also came after ers{-while trustee Mehli Mistiy parted ways with the Taja group last week.