Interview/ R. Gopalakrishnan, former board member, Tata Sons
R. GOPALAKRISHNAN, former board member of Tata Sons, worked closely with Ratan Tata and has many memories of his leadership qualities, humility and simplicity. In an exclusive interaction, he talks about the legacy Tata leaves behind and the group’s future under Noel Tata.
Q/ How did Ratan Tata shape Tata Group?
A/ Ratan Tata shaped the group in many strategic ways. At a time when centrifugal forces threatened the unity of the group, he held the companies together. He implemented an ongoing exercise to continue the long-standing philosophy of community centricity measures―through Brand Equity and Brand Promotion Scheme, through Tata Code of Conduct, through Tata Business Excellence Model, and through Tata Brand harmonisation. He set the group’s ambitions out-of-the-ordinary through global acquisitions, through highly innovative ideas, and by seeding new businesses.
Q/ What is the legacy that Tata leaves behind?
A/ Ratan Tata’s legacy is that he ran his ‘race’ like a disciplined relay runner to whom it mattered how his predecessors had run, how he could enhance the run further, and to hand over a winning baton to the successors. He was a great human being and also a great businessman. Both are needed to create sustainable enterprises with the potential for long life. Treating people with ibaadat, insaaniyat and inayat.
Q/ Tata Trusts have appointed Noel Tata as the new chairman. What are his key strengths?
A/ It is a superb move. Noel Tata is a credible, experienced and natural choice to lead the trusts. He is well-educated, accomplished as a business builder, humble as a person, and fresh with new ideas. That is a great recipe for taking the trusts forward.