Ratan Tata: Ethical Leadership

Ratan Tata began his journey with the Tata group on the shop floor of the Tata Iron and Steel Company Limited and eventually rose to become chairman of the Tata group—a conglomerate with operations in more than 80 countries across six continents. Known as a value-based, principled, and visionary leader, Ratan Tata helped the Tata group grow immensely over two decades of leadership. When he retired in 2012, he passed the leadership to a new chairman. However, four years later, on October 24, 2016, the Tata Sons board, which controlled the Tata group, decided to replace the chairman. His ousting led to a public clash over ethics and corporate governance at the top of the Tata empire. Ratan Tata was asked to return as interim chairman and help find a new successor. How could he succeed in this task and help the Tata group retain its glory, without compromising its values and beliefs?