Harish Bhat, a former brand custodian at Tata Sons and managing director of Tata Global Beverages, stepped down from Trent’s board after a 12‑year stint that began under the leadership of Noel Tata. In his resignation letter, Bhat praised the company’s rapid growth and credited Tata’s leadership for steering Trent into a new era of retail innovation.
Nirmalya Kumar, who once sat on the core team of Cyrus Mistry, posted on LinkedIn that Bhat was the first—and only—member of the group executive council to switch sides when Mistry was ousted, a move that secured Bhat’s position under N. Chandrasekaran.
The departure has sharpened observers’ focus on the shifting power balance within the Tata Group. With Noel Tata’s influence on the board rising, analysts predict a swift appointment of a successor who will likely align closely with Noel’s vision, further consolidating his control.
Behind the corporate headlines, a long‑time Trent associate noted that Bhat’s decisions on store expansions had directly benefited local vendors, suggesting that the board’s realignment may ripple through the supply chain and affect thousands of small‑business owners.