Who moved Chandra’s Cheese?

Metro India News | Hyderabad

Natarajan Chandrasekaran, (Chandra), did Bachelors in Applied Sciences & Masters in Computer Engineering from REC Tiruchurapalli. In 1987, he joined Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and became a programmer. In 2007, he became COO and as CEO in 2009. He was inducted into the Board of Tata Sons in 2016, and became Chairman in 2017 after Cyrus Mistry was unceremoniously removed. In 2022 he was reappointed for another 5 years until Feb 2027. Due to his contributions & position in Tata Group, Chandra received Padma Bushan in India, and several highest civilian honours in France & UK. He received many Business Leadership awards.

He received Doctorates from GITAM, KIIT, SRM, JNTU, NIT, & AMU and from organizations in Australia and Netherlands. At Tata, Chandra earned several posts, team leading opportunities, CXO positions, recognitions, & respect. His leadership contributions spanned strategy, finance, business development & liaison. He has been a hardworking intelligent leader besides being a consultative decision maker. While his 10-year term ends in Feb 2027, if not all, many expected another term as Tata Trusts also gave approval for 2027 to 2032.

However, the Rs. 1,400 crs networth Chandra chose not to continue since his reappointment was not unanimous. But Tata has history of non-unanimous resolutions too. They include director Rusy Mody removal , directors’ retirement age changes, public to private conversion of Tata Sons, removal of Cyrus Mistry, & legal fight with Shapoorji Pallonji.

However, implementation of these non-unanimous resolutions was not unanimously appreciated by the stakeholders. TCS is one of India's top jewels. It has also been bellwether of Indian software industry. It is well governed under Tata group’s policies, and commanded respect of all stakeholders viz., clients, employees, customers, vendors, beneficiaries, and government.

However, the recent past saw certain issues which are usual in the industry but unusual for Tata group. They include workforce realignment, job cuts, union issues, abrupt exits for benched team, relocation orders, delayed hikes, and religious conversion complaints. Chandra has a clean track all through. However, due to his alignment with Ratan Tata, he continued reversal of corrective steps initiated by Cyrus Mistry, legal aggression against Cyrus Mistry, blocking monetization by Shapoorji Pallonji, being silent in Mehul Mistry issue, and offensive approach towards Nulsi Wadia.

 One of the main reasons of non-unanimous approval for Chandra’s 3rd term is his passive complicity in Cyrus Mistry episode. The dispute between the groups weakened Shapoorji Pallonji financially, & Tata Group morally. It is clear who moved the cheese of Chandra. In any case, with noble and unprejudiced Noel Tata at the helm, Chandra being one of the best leaders will receive deservingly honorable farewell. 

- Dr. Kishore Nuthalapati

(Dr. Kishore is the Regional Director of PRMIA, US for Hyderabad Chapter and also serving as the CFO of BEKEM Infra Projects Pvt Ltd, 

Hyderabad.)