The Tata Sons board has approved the reappointment of N Chandrasekaran as executive chairman for another five years, reversing his earlier decision to step down when his current term ends in February 2027.
All board members backed the resolution except Noel Tata, who voted against Chandrasekaran’s continuation.
Chandrasekaran had informed the board on August 12 that he would not seek another term after months of uncertainty over his future. A succession process was subsequently expected to begin.
His reappointment comes shortly after the Reserve Bank of India rejected Tata Sons’ request to surrender its core investment company status. The decision has renewed questions over whether Tata Sons could eventually be required to list its shares.
Tata Trusts, which owns about 66% of Tata Sons, has opposed a public listing, while the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, holding around 18%, has supported one.
Chandrasekaran became Tata Sons chairman in 2017 and received a second five-year term in 2022. His latest extension provides leadership continuity as Tata Sons deals with regulatory, ownership and governance issues.
The reasons behind the reversal of his earlier decision were not immediately clear.