With Tata scion Noel (pictured) roped in as trustee on the board of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) in early February 2022, media reports suggest that this is an "important development signaling succession planning” (businessstandard.com, February 14). 
"Reports said the move signals… continued association of the Tata family with the philanthropic body that controls the Tata group…Noel Tata thus will be the family representative on the Trusts side along with Ratan Tata while a professional will manage the Tata Group,” stated the news website. However, The Economic Times reported on February 12 that emails sent to Noel, Ratan and Tata Sons, in this context, did not elicit a response.
Noel gave up his executive responsibilities at the Tata group in November last year, stepping down as managing director of Tata International on turning 65, as per Group norms. He continues to hold a non-executive post as chairman of Trent, Tata Investment Corporation, Voltas and Tata International. He is also vice chairman of Titan. The son of Naval and Simone Tata, and half-brother to Ratan and Jimmy Tata, Noel is a graduate of Sussex University, UK.
While Ratan is the chairman of Tata Trusts, the other directors on the board of SDTT include vice chairmen Vijay Singh and Venu Srinivasan, R. K. Krishnakumar and Pramit Jhaveri. SDTT and Allied Trusts, with the Sir Ratan Tata and Allied Trusts, span almost all sectors of human welfare and include education, health care, nutrition, arts and culture and sports. F. J.