Tata Sons shortlist three candidates to succeed N Chandrasekaran

MUMBAI: The Tata chair is up for grabs, and the shortlist is taking shape. Tata Sons is reportedly narrowing its search for a successor to chairman N Chandrasekaran, with three names emerging as potential contenders ahead of the end of his current term in February 2027.

According to media reports, the names under consideration are T V Narendran, CEO and MD of Tata Steel; Saurabh Agrawal, executive director and group CFO of Tata Sons; and Ashish Chauhan, MD and CEO of the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

Narendran is reportedly the leading internal contender, helped by his long association with the Tata Group and experience running one of its major businesses. He has been at Tata Steel since 2004 and became its CEO and MD in 2013.

Agrawal brings a different financial playbook to the table. His background spans investment banking, finance and group-level capital allocation, along with his current role overseeing the finances of Tata Sons.

Chauhan represents the potential outsider option. A veteran of India’s financial markets and one of the executives involved in setting up the NSE, he brings experience across capital markets, technology and institutional management.

The succession process is still underway and no final decision has been made. The Tata Sons board is expected to play a key role, while the Tata Trusts, which hold controlling ownership in the holding company, are also expected to have a significant say in the appointment.

Chandrasekaran took charge of Tata Sons in 2017 and is currently serving his second five-year term. He has indicated that he will not seek another term after his tenure ends on February 20, 2027.

That leaves the group with roughly a year and a half to decide who gets the biggest chair in one of India’s most closely watched business houses. For now, three names are in the frame, but the Tata succession story is still very much a work in progress.