The Tata Group is headed by Group chairman Ratan Tata. The Group Executive Office and the Group Corporate Centre are the two decision-making bodies that define and direct the business endeavours of the Tata Group. Each company has its own management.

Tata Group profile

The Tata Group comprises 96 operating companies in seven business sectors: information systems and communications; engineering; materials; services; energy; consumer products; and chemicals. The Group was founded by Jamsetji Tata in the mid 19th century, a period when India had just set out on the road to gaining independence from British rule. Consequently, Jamsetji Tata and those who followed him aligned business opportunities with the objective of nation building. This approach remains enshrined in the Group's ethos to this day.

The Tata Group is one of India's largest and most respected business conglomerates, with revenues in 2005-06 of $21.9 billion (Rs 967,229 million), the equivalent of about 2.8 per cent of the country's GDP, and a market capitalisation of $59.5 billion as on August 9, 2007. Tata companies together employ some 2,46,000 people. The Group's 28 publicly listed enterprises — among them stand out names such as Tata Steel, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors and Tata Tea — have a combined market capitalisation that is the highest among Indian business houses in the private sector, and a shareholder base of over 2 million. The Tata Group has operations in more than 85 countries across six continents, and its companies export products and services to 80 countries.

The Tata family of companies shares a set of five core values: integrity, understanding, excellence, unity and responsibility. These values, which have been part of the Group's beliefs and convictions from its earliest days, continue to guide and drive the business decisions of Tata companies. The Group and its enterprises have been steadfast and distinctive in their adherence to business ethics and their commitment to corporate social responsibility. This is a legacy that has earned the Group the trust of many millions of stakeholders in a measure few business houses anywhere in the world can match.

Milestones

1868

Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata starts a private trading firm, laying the foundation of the Tata Group.

1874

The Central India Spinning, Weaving and Manufacturing Company is set up, marking the Group's entry into textiles.

1902

The Indian Hotels Company is incorporated to set up the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, India's first luxury hotel, which opened in 1903.

1907

The Tata Iron and Steel Company (now Tata Steel) is established to set up India's first iron and steel plant in Jamshedpur. The plant started production in 1912.

1910

The first of the three Tata Electric Companies, The Tata Hydro-Electric Power Supply Company, (now Tata Power) is set up.

1911

The Indian Institute of Science is established in Bangalore to serve
as a centre for advanced learning.

1912

Tata Steel introduces eight-hour working days, well before such a system was implemented by law in much of the West.

1917

The Tatas enter the consumer goods industry, with the Tata Oil Mills Company being established to make soaps, detergents and cooking oils.

1932

Tata Airlines, a division of Tata Sons, is established, opening up the aviation sector in India.

1939

Tata Chemicals, now the largest producer of soda ash in the country, is established.

1945

Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company (renamed Tata Motors in 2003) is established to manufacture locomotive and engineering products.

Tata Industries is created for the promotion and development of hi-tech industries.

1952

Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, requests the Group to manufacture cosmetics in India, leading to the setting up of Lakme.

1954

India's major marketing, engineering and manufacturing organisation, Voltas, is established.

1962

Tata Finlay (now Tata Tea), one of the largest tea producers, is established.

Tata Exports is established. Today the company, renamed Tata International, is one of the leading export houses in India.

1968

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS),
India's first software services company, is established as a division of Tata Sons.

1970

Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company is created to publish educational and technical books.

Tata Economic Consultancy Services is set up to provide services in the field of industrial, marketing, statistical and techno-economic research and consultancy.

1984

Titan Industries – a joint venture between the Tata Group and the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) – is set up to manufacture watches.

1991

Tata Motors rolls out its millionth vehicle. (The two-million mark was reached in 1998 and the third million in 2003.)

1995

Tata Quality Management Services institutes the JRD QV Award, modelled on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Value Award of the United States, laying the foundation of the Tata Business Excellence Model.

1996

Tata Teleservices (TTSL) is established to spearhead the Group's foray into the telecom sector.

1998

Tata Indica – India's first indigenously designed and manufactured car – is launched by Tata Motors, spearheading the Group's entry into the passenger car segment.

1999

The new Tata Group corporate mark and logo are launched.

2000

Tata Tea acquires the Tetley Group, UK. This is the first major acquisition of an international brand by an Indian business group.

2001

Tata AIG – a joint venture between the Tata Group and American International Group Inc (AIG) – marks the Tata
re-entry into insurance. (The Group's insurance company, New India Assurance, was nationalised in 1956).

The Tata Group Executive Office (GEO) is set up to design and implement change in the Tata Group and to provide long-term direction.

2002

The Tata Group acquires a controlling stake in VSNL, India's leading international telecommunications service provider.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) becomes the first Indian software company to cross one billion dollars in revenues.

Titan launches Edge, the slimmest watch in the world.

Idea Cellular, the cellular service born of a tie-up involving the Tata Group, the Birla Group and AT&T, is launched.

Tata Indicom, the umbrella brand for telecom services from the Tata Teleservices stable, starts operations.

2003

Tata Motors launches CityRover – Indicas fashioned for the European market. The first batch of CityRovers rolled out from the Tata Motors stable in Pune on September 16, 2003.

2004

Tata Motors acquires the heavy vehicles unit of Daewoo Motors, South Korea.

TCS goes public in July 2004 in the largest private sector initial public offering (IPO) in the Indian market, raising nearly $1.2 billlion.

2005

Tata Steel acquires Singapore-based steel company NatSteel by subscribing to 100 per cent equity of its subsidiary, NatSteel Asia

VSNL acquired Tyco Global Network, making it one of the world's largest providers of submarine cable bandwidth

Tata Sons completes 60 years of Tata operations in the US

The Taj takes over management of The Pierre, NY

Taco acquires Wundsch Weidinger, Germany

Trent acquires majority stake in India's largest, privately owned books and music retailer, Landmark

Tata Steel acquires stake in Carborough Down Coal Project, Queensland, Australia

VSNL acquires Teleglobe International Holdings, Bermuda

TCS acquires Sydney-based Financial Network Services (FNS)

Tata Motors passenger vehicle sales cross one-million mark

TCS acquires leading BPO firm Comicrom in Chile

The Indian Hotels Company acquires hotel run by Starwood, Sydney

Tata Steel acquires Millennium Steel, Thailand

Tata Chemicals acquires controlling stake in Brunner Mond Group, UK

2006

Tata Credit Card launched

Foundation stone for the Tata Medical Centre unveiled in Kolkata

TCS launches India’s largest e-governance initiative, MCA-21

Tata Steel ranked world’s best steel maker for the third time by World Steel Dynamics

Tata Coffee acquires US-based Eight O'Clock Coffee

Tatas join hands with Indigene Pharmaceuticals to build a global biopharmaceutical company

Tata Sky satellite television service launched across the country

Tata Steel begins construction of R670 million Ferrochrome plant in South Africa

Tata Group acquires 30-per cent stake in Glacéau

VSNL rebrands SNO as Neotel in South Africa

2007

Tata Refractories sets up Greenfield plant in China

Tata Research Design and Development Centre celebrates silver jubilee

Tata Steel acquires Corus

TCS inaugurates TCS China — a joint venture with Chinese government and other partners

Tata Steel acquires 100-per cent equity stake in Rawmet Industries, Kolkata

Tata Steel, through its subsidiary NatSteel Asia, acquires controlling equity stake in two rolling mills located in Vietnam

Tata Motors rolls out its 100,000th Ace within 20 months of the vehicle's initial launch

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