Cyrus Mistry to succeed Ratan Tata as chairman of Tata Sons

The board of directors of Tata Sons has chosen Cyrus P Mistry as the next chairman of Tata Sons. At a meeting on Wednesday, the board appointed Cyrus P Mistry as deputy chairman of Tata Sons. Mistry will work with Ratan N Tata over the next year before taking over from Ratan Tata in December 2012 when he retires.

Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Sons, said: "The appointment of Cyrus P Mistry as Deputy Chairman of Tata Sons is a good and far-sighted choice. He has been on the board of Tata Sons since August 2006 and I have been impressed with the quality and calibre of his participation, his astute observations and his humility. He is intelligent and qualified to take on the responsibility being offered and I will be committed to working with him over the next year to give him the exposure, the involvement and the operating experience to equip him to undertake the full responsibility of the group on my retirement."

Cyrus Mistry, currently managing director, Shapoorji Pallonji Group, has been a director of Tata Sons since August 2006. He is a graduate of civil engineering from Imperial College, London, and has a master of science in management from the London Business School.