N Chandrasekaran has been reappointed as executive chairman of Tata Sons for another five-year term, reversing his earlier decision to step down when his current tenure ends in February 2027.
The Tata Sons board approved the fresh term on Thursday, September 17, following a request from the board for Chandrasekaran to reconsider his decision. The company said the request was made in recognition of his contribution to the Tata Group and in the larger interests of the group.
According to Tata Sons, its Nomination and Remuneration Committee had unanimously asked Chandrasekaran on September 3 to reconsider his decision. At the board meeting on September 17, he agreed to the request.
The company also referred to a resolution passed by Tata Trusts in July 2025, expressing appreciation for Chandrasekaran's leadership since he became chairman of Tata Sons in 2017. The Trusts had supported his reappointment for another five years.
However, the process had faced disagreements within the Tata Sons board. The company said that while the board had agreed in principle in September 2025 to reappoint Chandrasekaran, a formal resolution scheduled for February 2026 was deferred because there was no unanimity. The matter was discussed again during board meetings in May and June but remained unresolved.
The issue became more closely watched after Chandrasekaran announced in August that he would not seek another term. At the time, he said he had completed 40 years of professional life with the Tata Group and had decided not to offer himself for reappointment after his current term ended on February 20, 2027.
Noel Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts, had previously opposed Chandrasekaran's reappointment. A spokesperson for Sir Dorabji Tata Trust had said in August that the Trust continued to respect Chandrasekaran's decision to step down and wanted the process for appointing a new chairman to begin.
Reuters and PTI later reported that Noel Tata voted against the latest reappointment proposal. However, the resolution was passed by a majority of the board, according to sources cited by the agencies.
The decision comes at an important time for Tata Sons, following regulatory developments concerning the holding company's listing. The reappointment means Chandrasekaran will continue to lead Tata Sons for another five years, subject to the applicable formal and regulatory requirements.
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