MUMBAI — As Tata Sons prepares for a leadership transition ahead of Chairman N Chandrasekaran's expected departure in February 2027, TV Narendran, the 61-year-old managing director of Tata Steel, has emerged as a potential candidate for the top role.

Under Tata Sons' governance structure, the chairman is chosen by a five-member committee structured as follows:

• Three members nominated jointly by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT)
• One member nominated by the Tata Sons board
• One independent member selected by the board

The planning process faces complications as SRTT is currently unable to convene trustee meetings following a directive from the Maharashtra charity commissioner. Additionally, rules amended in 2022 prohibit the Tata Trusts chairman from simultaneously serving as Tata Sons chairman, a dual role last held by Ratan Tata.

Noel Tata, who serves as Tata Trusts chairman, Tata Sons director, and vice-chairman of Tata Steel, is barred from taking the chairman position under the 2022 rule. He is scheduled to retire from boards of other Tata group companies in November under the group's policy setting 70 as the retirement age for non-executive directors. However, he will remain a Tata Sons director, as Trust nominees are exempt from retirement age limits.

Narendran joined the Tata group in 1988, has served as managing director of Tata Steel since 2013, and has described the late Ratan Tata as a mentor who guided the steelmaker through its transformation.