Simone Tata, a towering figure in India’s business world and stepmother to Ratan Tata, has died in Mumbai at the age of 95 following a brief illness. Her passing marks the end of an era for Indian retail and fashion, industries she helped pioneer.
Often counted among the most influential women in Indian business, Simone Tata passed away on Friday at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. Born in Geneva, Switzerland, her connection to India began in 1953 when she arrived as a tourist. She subsequently met and married Naval Tata in 1955, making Mumbai her permanent home.
Simone Tata’s most enduring corporate legacy is her instrumental role in the Tata Group’s retail sector. Joining the business in the early 1960s, she is widely credited with transforming the nascent cosmetics brand ‘Lakmé’ into a highly successful, premium Indian cosmetic brand with extensive reach across the country.
Beyond her corporate achievements, Simone Tata was a dedicated philanthropist. She served as Chairperson of the Sir Ratan Tata Institute and was an active Trustee of Children of the World India (CWI). She is survived by her son, Noel Tata, daughter-in-law, Aloo Mistry, and her grandchildren.
