Simone Tata
Swiss-born Indian businesswoman (1930–2025)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Simone Naval Tata (née Dunoyer; 2 March 1930 – 5 December 2025) was a Swiss-born Indian businesswoman,[1] and a member of the Tata family.[2] She was the step-mother of Ratan Tata, and was a key figure in building Lakmé Cosmetics and founded Trent Limited. Simone Tata played a significant role in India's beauty and retail sectors for over four decades. She was instrumental in establishing Trent (Westside).
2 March 1930
India
Simone Tata | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | Simone Dunoyer 2 March 1930 Geneva, Switzerland |
| Died | 5 December 2025 (aged 95) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Citizenship | Switzerland (former)[citation needed] India |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Noel Tata |
| Relatives | Tata family |
Background
Simone Tata was born on 2 March 1930 in Geneva, Switzerland and grew up there. She graduated from the University of Geneva. Tata visited India as a tourist in 1953, where she met Naval Tata. They married in 1955, and Simone settled in Mumbai permanently.[3] Simone and Naval are the parents of Noel Tata. Simone is the stepmother of former Tata Group chairman, Ratan Tata, who is from Naval's previous marriage. She died on 5 December 2025, at the age of 95.[4]
Tata Group
Simone Tata joined the Lakmé board in 1962, when it was a minor subsidiary of Tata Oil Mills, as managing director in 1961, rising to become its chairperson in 1982, and was non-executive chairman of Trent Limited until 30 October 2006.[5]
She was appointed to the board of Tata Industries in 1989.[6]
Seeing growth in the retail sector, in 1996, Tata sold Lakmé Cosmetics to Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL), and created Trent Limited with money from the sale.[7] All shareholders of Lakmé were given equivalent shares in Trent. The Westside brand and stores belong to Trent.[8]
