Simone Tata, mother of Tata Trust Chair Noel Tata, passes away at 95

Tata, 95, is remembered for her pivotal role in shaping Lakme into India’s leading cosmetics brand and for laying the foundation of modern fashion retail in the country through the creation of the Westside chain, the Tata group said in a statement.

Born in 1930 in Geneva, Switzerland, Simone Tata studied at Geneva University before coming to India in 1953, where she met Naval H. Tata, Ratan Tata’s father.

Simone Tata, mother of Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata and stepmother of Ratan Tata, passed away on Friday at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital after a brief illness.

Tata, 95, is remembered for her pivotal role in shaping Lakme into India’s leading cosmetics brand and for laying the foundation of modern fashion retail in the country through the creation of the Westside chain, the Tata group said in a statement.

Born in 1930 in Geneva, Switzerland, Simone Tata studied at Geneva University before coming to India in 1953, where she met Naval H. Tata, Ratan Tata’s father. Their marriage in 1955 marked the beginning of her lifelong association with India, with Mumbai becoming her permanent home.

“She also guided the work of many philanthropic organisations, including the Sir Ratan Tata Institute. With her positivity and deep resolve, she overcame many challenges in her life while touching many of us deeply,” the statement said.

Her entry into the Tata business world began with her appointment to the Lakme Board in 1962, when the company was a subsidiary of Tata Oil Mills. Her strategic leadership helped transform Lakme into a household name. She became Managing Director in 1961 and later took over as Chairperson in 1982.

Recognising the rising potential of retail, she led a landmark shift in 1996 when Lakmé was sold to Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL). The proceeds were used to set up Trent, which went on to launch Westside — now one of India’s most successful retail chains.

Simone Tata’s journey from cosmetics to fashion retail reflected her versatility, sharp business acumen, and her ability to spot opportunities long before they became obvious to the market.