BW Businessworld · CEO Survey

Tata’s Leadership Question

Leadership continuity, shareholder expectations and corporate governance

BW Businessworld invites CEOs and managing directors of companies listed on the BSE and/or NSE to share their views on the leadership developments at Tata Sons and their implications for corporate India.

Context as of 18 September 2026

Media reports indicate that the Tata Sons board has backed N Chandrasekaran’s reappointment following his earlier decision not to seek another term. Tata Trusts, chaired by Noel Tata, has opposed the move and called for a succession process. The two sides differ over the validity of the reappointment.

Please answer on the basis of information available to you. An “Insufficient information” option is available where you do not wish to take a position.

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Time required

Approximately four minutes

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Response deadline

Monday, 21 September 2026, 5 pm IST

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Confidentiality
Responses will be analysed collectively for BW Businessworld’s editorial coverage. Your name and company will not be divulged in any form.

Ready to share your perspective?Approximately four minutes · Please answer based on information available to you.

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BW BUSINESSWORLD · CEO SURVEY

Tata’s Leadership Question

Leadership continuity, shareholder expectations and corporate governance

Listing exchange -

Q1. Do you support the Tata Sons board's decision to reconsider N Chandrasekaran's reappointment after his earlier announcement that he would not seek another term?

Select one.

Strongly supportSomewhat supportNeither support nor opposeSomewhat opposeStrongly opposeInsufficient information to assess

Q2. How consistent is the handling of the current leadership situation with the standards of governance you associate with the Tata group?

Select one.

Very consistentSomewhat consistentNeither consistent nor inconsistentSomewhat inconsistentVery inconsistentInsufficient information to assess

Q3. Based on publicly available information, how do you assess each leader's handling of the current disagreement?

Select one response for each person.

Noel Tata

Strongly approveSomewhat approveNeither approve nor disapproveSomewhat disapproveStrongly disapproveInsufficient information

N Chandrasekaran

Strongly approveSomewhat approveNeither approve nor disapproveSomewhat disapproveStrongly disapproveInsufficient information

Q4. What effect do you believe the current leadership disagreement is having on confidence in the Tata group?

Select one.

Very positiveSomewhat positiveNo material effectSomewhat negativeVery negativeInsufficient information to assess

Q5. What would be your preferred leadership outcome for Tata Sons beyond N Chandrasekaran's current term?

Select one. This asks for your preference, rather than an assessment of the legal validity of either course.

N Chandrasekaran continuing as chairman, subject to the applicable appointment processA new chairman appointed through the applicable succession processNo preference between these outcomesInsufficient information to form a preference

Q6. What is the single most important lesson Indian companies should draw from this episode?

Optional. Please respond in up to 100 words.

Permission to quote your written comment

Optional. This applies only to your answer to Question 6. If no option is selected, the comment will be used for analysis only.

Q7. How adequately have the reasons for reconsidering N Chandrasekaran's continuation, between his announcement on 12 August and the board's decision on 17 September 2026, been explained publicly?

Select one.

Very adequatelySomewhat adequatelyNeither adequately nor inadequatelySomewhat inadequatelyVery inadequatelyI have not followed the public explanations closely enough to assess

Q8. In your view, what should be the next step in resolving the disagreement over the legal validity of N Chandrasekaran's reappointment?

Select one.

Seek agreement through the company's prescribed board and shareholder processesSeek an independent legal assessment jointly commissioned by the partiesSeek a determination from the competent court or tribunalOther — please specifyInsufficient information to assess

Q9. Do you support the Shapoorji Pallonji Group's publicly stated call for Tata Sons to be listed?

Select one.

Strongly supportSomewhat supportNeither support nor opposeSomewhat opposeStrongly opposeInsufficient information to assess

Q10. What role, if any, should the Union government play in resolving the leadership disagreement at Tata Sons?

Select one.

No direct intervention — resolution should proceed through the company's governance arrangements and applicable legal processesFacilitate dialogue if the parties request itProactively seek a resolution, even without a request from the partiesOther — please specifyInsufficient information to assess

Q11. From today, how long do you expect the current leadership disagreement at Tata Sons to remain unresolved?

Select one.

Up to one monthMore than one month and up to three monthsMore than three months and up to six monthsMore than six monthsUnable to assess

Q12. If the disagreement remains unresolved for more than three months, what effect would you expect it to have on the Tata group's business performance?

Select one.

Very positiveSomewhat positiveNo material effectSomewhat negativeVery negativeInsufficient information to assess

Q13. What should be the highest priority in resolving the current situation at Tata Sons?

Select one.

Establishing clarity on leadership and successionClarifying the respective roles and decision-making rights of the board and shareholdersResolving the company's future ownership and listing structure within the applicable regulatory frameworkProtecting business performance and the execution of long-term investmentsOther — please specifyInsufficient information to assess

Q14. What effect would you expect a public listing of Tata Sons to have on its ability to support long-term investments across the Tata group?

Select one.

Significantly strengthen its abilitySomewhat strengthen its abilityHave no material effectSomewhat weaken its abilitySignificantly weaken its abilityInsufficient information to assess

Q15. Would you support a leadership structure at Tata Sons with a non-executive chairman overseeing the board and a separate chief executive responsible for managing the business?

Select one.

Strongly supportSomewhat supportNeither support nor opposeSomewhat opposeStrongly opposeInsufficient information to assess