Brands
Tata Sons board set to approve Chandrasekaran’s third term as chairman: Reports
Chandrasekaran tipped for third term as Tata Group seeks steady hand at the helm
MUMBAI: The Tata Sons board is gearing up for a landmark meeting on February 24, with the spotlight on the re-appointment of N. Chandrasekaran as chairman. According to media reports, the board will consider several proposals, but the star item is Chandrasekaran’s potential third term, signalling continuity at the top of India’s most storied business group.
Chandrasekaran, popularly known as Chandra, has been at the helm of Tata Sons since January 2017. His current tenure concludes in February 2027, and the proposal on the table is for a five-year extension. The proposal comes from Noel Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts, and Venu Srinivasan, vice chairman of Tata Trusts, with board approval required to make it official.
Chandra’s journey with the Tata Group is a remarkable rise through the ranks. He started as an intern at Tata Consultancy Services, rose to chief operating officer in 2007, and became CEO in 2009 at the age of 46. He joined the Tata Sons board in 2016 and has been steering the group’s flagship companies ever since, holding chairmanships at Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Power, Air India, Indian Hotels Company, and TCS itself.
A close aide of the late Ratan Tata, Chandrasekaran is widely seen as a steady hand capable of guiding the conglomerate through change while maintaining its long-standing ethos. Extending his term would reflect the Tata Trusts’ confidence in his strategic vision and the desire for stability at the group’s top echelons.
The board meeting on February 24 is expected to formalise the decision, marking another chapter in the Tata Group’s enduring story of leadership continuity and business ambition.
Brands
Jubilant Foodworks to end Dunkin’ franchise in India
Pizza chain operator will not renew agreement when it expires at end of 2026.
MUMBAI: When the doughnuts stop turning and the coffee goes cold, even a global giant like Dunkin’ can find the Indian market a tough brew to crack. Jubilant Foodworks has decided not to renew its franchise agreement with Dunkin’ when the pact expires on 31 December 2026, according to a Reuters report. The operator, best known for running Domino’s outlets in India, said it would evaluate options for its existing Dunkin’ stores, including a potential sale or transfer of franchise rights, in consultation with the US-based brand.
The decision follows years of underperformance in a market where local tastes and intense competition have made it difficult for international coffee-and-doughnut formats to gain traction. Jubilant, which has increasingly focused on its core pizza business and newer bets like Popeyes, indicated that the exit would not materially affect its financial or operational position.
Dunkin’ accounted for just 0.61 per cent of Jubilant’s revenue in the fiscal year ending 2025 and recorded a loss of approximately Rs 191 million, according to a regulatory filing. The company operated 27 outlets as of December 2025, having shuttered seven stores over the preceding year.
The retreat comes even as Jubilant’s broader business shows signs of momentum. The company reported a 65 per cent rise in quarterly profit for the October to December period, reaching Rs 70.9 crore, up from Rs 42.91 crore a year earlier.
For Jubilant, the exit reflects a sharpening strategic focus. For Dunkin’, it marks another setback in a market that has proven resistant to imported café concepts without significant localisation.
In the cut-throat world of Indian quick-service restaurants, sometimes the sweetest deals are the ones you quietly walk away from leaving more room for the brands that truly rise to the occasion.
