Background
About N. Chandrasekaran
Natarajan Chandrasekaran, widely known as N. Chandrasekaran or Chandra, is the Executive Chairman of Tata Sons, the principal holding company of the Tata group. He took charge as Chairman in February 2017 after a career of nearly three decades at Tata Consultancy Services, including more than seven years as its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director.
From TCS to Tata Sons
Chandrasekaran studied applied sciences before completing a master's degree in computer applications at Regional Engineering College, Tiruchirappalli, now the National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli. He joined Tata Consultancy Services in 1987 and spent his career progressing through the technology company rather than joining Tata Sons from outside the group.
At TCS, Chandrasekaran held a series of management positions before becoming Chief Operating Officer and later CEO and Managing Director in 2009. His tenure coincided with a significant expansion of TCS's international operations and its digital and technology-services businesses. He also served as chairman of Indian technology industry body NASSCOM in 2012–13.
Leadership of Tata Sons
Chandrasekaran joined the Tata Sons board in October 2016. In January 2017, the board announced his appointment as Executive Chairman, and he formally took charge on 21 February 2017. He succeeded Cyrus Mistry in leading the group's principal holding company. He has subsequently served as chairman of several major Tata companies, including Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors and Tata Steel.
As Tata Sons Chairman, Chandrasekaran has overseen a period in which the group has expanded into areas including electronics manufacturing, digital businesses, electric mobility and semiconductor-related investments. His tenure has also included the Tata group's return to airline ownership through the acquisition of Air India from the Government of India in 2022 and its subsequent integration with the group's aviation businesses.
Chandrasekaran was reappointed for a second five-year term as Tata Sons Chairman in 2022. In September 2026 he remained Chairman of Tata Sons. A Tata Trusts statement in August 2026 said his then-current tenure was due to expire on 20 February 2027.