Cyrus Pallonji Mistry Biography

(Former Chairman of the Tata Group (2012 - 2016))

Birthday: July 4, 1968 (Cancer)

Born In: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Cyrus Pallonji Mistry was an Irish entrepreneur with Indian roots who served as the Chairman of Tata Group—a major Indian business conglomerate—from 2012 to 2016. A longtime board member of Tata Sons, he was appointed the chairman of the company in 2012 as Ratan Tata’s successor. However his tenure in this leadership position was fraught with controversies and in October 2016, the board of Tata Sons voted to remove Mistry from the post of chairman. Mistry was born into a wealthy business Parsi family and his father was the head of Shapoorji Pallonji Group, a diversified multinational. After graduating in engineering, he got involved in the family-owned construction business. Under his leadership, the group's international construction business expanded its presence to more than ten countries. He oversaw the diversification of the company from just construction to designing and building complex projects in the marine, oil and gas, and rail sectors. Before entering the Tata Group, he served as the managing director of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group. At the Tata Group, he played a crucial role serving at various positions for Tata companies including Tata Industries, Tata Steel, Tata Chemicals and Tata Motors before his surprise ouster.

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Quick Facts

Indian Celebrities Born In July

Also Known As: Cyrus Mistry

Age: 56 Years, 56 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Rohiqa Chagla

father: Pallonji Mistry

mother: Patsy Perin Dubash

siblings: Aloo, Laila, Shapoor Mistry

Born Country: India

Indian Men Irish Men

Height: 5'9" (175 cm), 5'9" Males

Ancestry: Indian Irish

Notable Alumni: London Business School

City: Mumbai, India

More Facts

education: Imperial College London, London Business School

  • 1

    What led to Cyrus Pallonji Mistry's removal as the Chairman of Tata Sons?

    Cyrus Mistry's removal as the Chairman of Tata Sons was attributed to a loss of confidence and trust between him and the Tata Sons board, primarily due to concerns over his leadership style and strategy.

  • 2

    How did Cyrus Pallonji Mistry's tenure impact the Tata Group's financial performance?

    During Cyrus Mistry's tenure as Chairman of Tata Sons, the financial performance of the Tata Group faced challenges, including significant write-downs and losses in various businesses.

  • 3

    What were some key strategic decisions made by Cyrus Pallonji Mistry during his time as Chairman of Tata Sons?

    Some key strategic decisions made by Cyrus Mistry included focusing on cost-cutting measures, restructuring underperforming businesses, and seeking to streamline the Tata Group's operations.

  • 4

    What legal actions were taken by Cyrus Pallonji Mistry following his removal as Chairman of Tata Sons?

    Following his removal as Chairman of Tata Sons, Cyrus Mistry initiated legal proceedings against Tata Sons and its board members, alleging oppression and mismanagement.

  • 5

    How did Cyrus Pallonji Mistry's tenure impact the relationship between the Tata Group and its stakeholders?

    Cyrus Mistry's tenure as Chairman of Tata Sons strained the relationship between the Tata Group and its stakeholders, leading to a period of uncertainty and conflict within the company.

Childhood & Early Life

Cyrus Mistry was born on July 4, 1968, in India to Pallonji Mistry, an Indian construction magnate, and his wife, Patsy Perin Dubash. He had an elder brother, Shapoor Mistry, and two sisters, Laila and Aloo.

His father belonged to a Parsi Indian business family, the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, while his mother was of Irish origin. In the 1930s, his grandfather first bought shares in Tata Sons. His father became the largest single shareholder in Tata Group in 2011.
He received his early education from the Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai. Later he completed his graduation with a BE in Civil Engineering from Imperial College, London.

Then he attended the London Business School and obtained a Master of Sciences degree in Management. He also had a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Mumbai University.

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Career

In 1991, Cyrus Mistry joined the board of Shapoorji Pallonji & Company as director and was later appointed the managing director of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group in 1994. At that time, his father was the chairman of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group and also sat on the board of the Tata Group.

From 1990 to 2009, he served as the Director of Tata Elxsi Limited. He also served as the Director of Tata Power Co. Ltd until 2006.
He was associated with Convergence Media Private Limited India, as Senior Vice President of Operations and Planning. He also served as the Senior Vice President of Business Development and Technology at DQ Entertainment (International) Limited.
On September 1, 2006, he joined the board of Tata Sons, after one year of his father’s retirement from the Tata Group. He was named director of several Tata companies in addition to his duties with the Shapoorji Pallonji Group.
In November 2011, after being appointed as the deputy chairman of the Tata Group, he resigned from Shapoorji Pallonji & Co. It was also announced that he would take over as the Chairman one year later, upon the retirement of Ratan Tata.
He was made the additional director of the Indian Hotels Company Limited in November 2012 and was appointed as its Non-Executive Chairman in December 2012.
On November 8, 2012, he was appointed the Chairman of the Tata Power Company Limited. A few days later on November 20, 2012, he was made the Chairman of the Board of Tata Global Beverages Limited. He also became the Chairman of Tata Teleservices Limited and Tata Industries Ltd.
On December 28, 2012, he was appointed as the new Chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Group. In this position he also served as the Chairman of all major Tata companies including Tata Industries, Tata Steel, Tata Chemicals and Tata Motors.
His appointment as the Chairman of Tata Consultancy Services Limited and the Tata Chemicals Limited came in December 28, 2012. In addition was also given the responsibility of being the Director and Chairman of the Board of Shapoorji Pallonji Group.
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He is also the Director of Forvol International Services Ltd., Cyrus Investments Ltd., Buildbazaar Technologies (India) Pvt. Ltd., Sterling Investment Corporation Pvt. Ltd., Samalpatti Power Co. Pvt. Ltd., Shapoorji Pallonji Finance Ltd., Oman Shapoorji Construction Co. Ltd., and Muscat Pallonji Shapoorji & Co. Pvt. Ltd.
Cyrus Mistry’s actions as the Chairman of the Tata Group started gaining criticism in 2016. According to some sources, Ratan Tata felt that Mistry lacked the vision to take the company forward. In addition, Mistry’s mode of acquisition of management had also come under scrutiny.

The board of Tata Sons convened on 24 October 2016 and voted to remove Mistry from the post of chairman. The former chairman Ratan Tata took over as the interim chairman.

Major Works

Under his leadership, the Shapoorji Pallonji Group expanded its construction business and achieved greater heights. The company took up large engineering projects, including the building of power plants and factories. Under his supervision, the companies established benchmarks such as construction of the tallest residential towers, the longest rail bridge and the largest affordable housing project.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1992, he married Rohiqa Chagla, daughter of Iqbal Chagla, one of India’s most prominent lawyers. The couple had two sons.

He passed away on September 4, 2022, in a car accident.

Facts About Cyrus Pallonji Mistry

Cyrus Pallonji Mistry was known for his love of art and had a personal collection that included works by renowned artists such as MF Husain and Anish Kapoor.

Despite his busy schedule as a business executive, Mistry was passionate about wildlife conservation and supported various initiatives to protect endangered species.

Mistry was known for his philanthropic efforts, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare

He donated generously to charitable causes and established educational institutions to empower underprivileged communities.

An avid reader, Mistry enjoyed literature from a wide range of genres and often recommended books to his colleagues and friends.

Mistry had a keen interest in sustainable development and implemented eco-friendly practices in the companies he oversaw, emphasizing the importance of environmental responsibility.

See the events in life of Cyrus Pallonji Mistry in Chronological Order

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Article Title
- Cyrus Pallonji Mistry Biography
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- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
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