In December of 2012, 43-year-old Cyrus Pallonji Mistry will create history as he takes over the position of chairman for Tata Sons, currently held by Ratan Tata. Mistry is one of the youngest directors on the board: his youthfulness will provide a new perspective and a promised stability for the company for 20-30 years.
Born on July 4, 1968 to construction tycoon Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry, Cyrus is a Graduate in Civil Engineering from the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine in London, and holds a Masters Degree in Management from the London Business School. He is a founder member of the Construction Federation of India, and a Fellow at the Institution of Civil Engineers. He is married to Rohika Chagla, the daughter of lawyer Iqbal Chagla; and one of his sisters, Aloo, is married to Noel Tata, Ratan Tata’s half-brother. Mistry is a Zoroastrian, like Ratan Tata.
Mistry was first appointed to the board of Tata Sons in 2006, and is currently a director of Tata Sons and Tata Elxsi (India). Many expected one of the three recent CEO’s – Ravi Kant of Tata Motors, S. Ramadorai of Tata Consultancy Services, and B. Muthuraman of Tata Steel – to be in the forefront of running for the chairman positions at Tata Sons. Mistry was a surprising choice.
