In a succession that came two days after the death of Ratan Naval Tata, his half-brother Noel Naval Tata was on Friday appointed new Chairman of Tata Trusts, the philanthropic arm of Tata Group.

A formal announcement about Noel Tata’s appointment as the head of the Tata Trusts came after the Trustees of various Trusts that come under the Tata Trusts held a joint meeting, condoled Ratan Tata’s demise and noted his yeoman services not only to the Tata Group but also to nation building. 

“In separate meetings held immediately, thereafter, it was unanimously decided to appoint Mr. Noel Naval Tata as the Chairman of the various Trusts that constitute the Tata Trusts and also designate him as Chairman, Tata Trusts,” Tata Trusts said in a statement issued here in the afternoon.

Sixty-seven-year-old Noel Tata’s appointment came into place with immediate effect. After being appointed as the new chairman of the Tata Trusts, India’s oldest philanthropic institution, Noel Tata said that he was “deeply honoured and humbled” by the responsibility cast on me by my fellow Trustees”and he looked “forward to carrying on the legacy of Ratan N Tata and the founders of the Tata Group”.

“I am deeply honoured and humbled by the responsibility that has been cast on me by my fellow Trustees. I look forward to carrying on the legacy of Ratan N Tata and the founders of the Tata Group. Founded more than a century ago, the Tata Trusts are a unique vehicle for undertaking social good. On this solemn occasion, we rededicate ourselves to carrying on our developmental and philanthropic initiatives and continuing to play our part in nation building,” Noel Tata said.

Noel Tata is the son of late Naval Tata, who was also Ratan Tata’s father. Noel’s mother is Simone Tata. Tata Trusts was founded by Noel and Ratan’s great grandfather Jamsetji Tata in 1892, years after he founded the Tata group.

Currently the Vice Chairman of Tata Steel and Titan, Noel Tata is already on the board of several listed Tata firms and Trusts governed by Tata Trusts. He was the frontrunner to succeed Ratan Tata as the chairman of Tata Trusts. Incidentally, Tata Trusts owns 66% shares of Tata Sons, the holding company of various firms under the Tata brand.

Noel Tata has been the chairman at Trent Ltd., the conglomerate’s massively successful apparel retailer, since 2014. He is also on the boards of several listed Tata firms like Tata Steel Ltd. and Voltas Ltd.