Ratan Tata's story shows his lasting dedication and strong
leadership. Born in Bombay on December 28, 1937, he later joined the Tata Group
in 1961. In 1991, he took over as chairman from JRD Tata. During his time, the
Tata Group grew a lot. Revenues increased more than 40 times, and earnings
jumped over 50 times as it became a global company.
Ratan Tata's top achievements include transforming the Tata
Group. He shifted the focus from selling basic goods to building strong brands.
Over 65% of revenues came from international business. He is also known for
giving back. Tata donates about 60-65% of his income to charities. These
charities support education, health, and rural growth. Tata also pushed for
innovation. He let new people lead and made operations better across the
company.
- Tata Tea bought Tetley, a British tea company, in 2000 for USD 407 million.
- In 2003, Tata Coffee bought Eight O'clock Coffee, a US brand, for USD 220 million.
- Tata Steel bought Corus Steel, a big Anglo-Dutch company, in 2007 for USD 12.1 billion. This was Tata's largest purchase.
- Tata Motors acquired Jaguar Land Rover from Ford in 2008 for USD 2.3 billion. There is a touching story behind this deal.
- In 2008, Tata Chemicals bought General Chemical Industrial Products, an American company, for USD 1 billion.
- Tata Investments bought a stake in Bruno Magli, an Italian luxury shoe brand, in 2008.
- Tata Motors and Piaggio, an Italian company, started working together in commercial vehicles in 2009. The Tata Motors also picked up Hispano Carrocera, a Spanish bus maker in the same year.
- Tata Chemicals expanded by buying British Salt's UK flaky salt business in 2010.
- Tata Digital invested in 1mg, an Indian online pharmacy, in 2015.
- Tata Communications acquired Skybell, an American video doorbell company, in 2015.
- In 2016, Tata Consultancy Services bought Dell's IT services unit for USD 3.05 billion.
In 2008, Mr. Tata received the Padma Vibhushan, India's
second-highest honor. Many top universities have given Mr. Tata honorary
doctorates. These universities recognize his great impact on business,
industry, and society. The doctorates show how much the academic world respects
him.
Tata's impact goes beyond business success. His vision,
leadership, and charity work have created a lasting legacy. He has won many
awards for his work in business.
Ratan Tata's inspiring journey is a guide for business
leaders everywhere.
