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Noel Tata, 67, is emerging as a top candidate to become the new chairman of the Tata Trusts after the recent passing of Ratan Tata. Noel is the son of Naval H. Tata and Simone N. Tata, and Ratan Tata's half-brother. The Tata Trusts is reportedly in the process of nominating Noel to lead the philanthropic entities that play a crucial role in the vast Tata Group. Noel Tata already serves as a trustee of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, which together own a significant 66% stake in Tata Sons, the holding company for the diversified Tata conglomerate. Although the Tata Trusts has not yet made any official comments on the succession planning, the focus has intensified on its leadership following Ratan Tata's death. As the largest public charitable foundation in India, the Tata Trusts boards will need to appoint a new chairman from among the existing trustees, as Ratan Tata did not name a successor before his passing. This ownership is significant as it includes a diverse portfolio spanning industries from aviation to automobiles.

A member of the founding family leads a philanthropic organization that donated approximately $56 million (Rs 470 crore) in the fiscal year 2023. Noel N. Tata currently serves as the Chairman and Non-Executive Director of Tata International Limited and has been part of the Tata group for over four decades. He holds various board positions across several Tata Group companies, including as the Chairman of Trent, Voltas, and Tata Investment Corporation, and as the Vice Chairman of Tata Steel and Titan Company Limited. His previous executive role was as the Managing Director of Tata International Limited, where he oversaw significant growth, with revenue increasing from $500 million to over $3 billion during his tenure from August 2010 to November 2021. Noel Tata's leadership experience also includes serving as the Managing Director of Trent Limited, where he led its expansion from a single store in 1998 to over 700 stores today. He holds a degree from Sussex University (UK) and has completed the International Executive Programme (IEP) at INSEAD. Traditionally, chairmen of Tata Trusts have been from the Parsi community, reinforcing the cultural ties within the organization.

Noel Tata, the head of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, was previously seen as a possible candidate to lead Tata Sons, but the position ultimately went to his brother-in-law, Cyrus Mistry. After Mistry's controversial departure, N Chandrasekaran, the former CEO of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), became the new chairman of Tata Sons. Although Noel and Ratan Tata had a strained relationship in the past, they have reportedly mended their differences, strengthening the family ties within the company's leadership.