In a sudden development Tata Trusts vice-chairman Vijay Singh (77) has stepped down from the board of Tata Sons just a day before the holding company’s directors were scheduled to meet. The move comes at a time when Tata Sons faces a Reserve Bank of India (RBI)-mandated deadline to launch its IPO The Times of India reported. Tata Trusts through its two key arms the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust owns about 52 per cent of Tata Sons the parent company of the USD 165-billion Tata Group which spans businesses from aviation to automobiles. Singh had been serving as Tata Trusts’ nominee director on Tata Sons’ board and will continue as a trustee of Tata Trusts. His resignation is unexpected as nominee directors of Tata Trusts are not bound by a retirement age unlike other Tata Sons directors. Currently executive directors retire at 65 non-executive directors at 70 and independent directors at 75. TV Narendran likely to join Tata Sons board TV Narendran global CEO and managing director of Tata Steel is expected to be inducted into the Tata Sons board as a representative of the group The Economic Times reported citing senior executives. The 60-year-old recently met Tata Sons chairman N. Chandrasekaran at Bombay House to discuss the appointment. The move would further strengthen Tata Steel’s representation in the group’s apex body as Noel Tata chairman of Tata Trusts and a current Tata Sons director who also serves as vice-chairman of Tata Steel. Narendran’s possible entry comes at a time of churn on the Tata Sons board. Ralf Speth former CEO of Jaguar Land Rover stepped down this month after turning 70 having served since October 2016 when the board was reshaped following Cyrus Mistry’s removal. Independent director Leo Puri resigned in April while veteran industrialist Ajay Piramal vacated his seat in August upon reaching the retirement age of 70. These exits have left three vacancies on the board. Tata Sons’ board comprises a mix of executive non-executive and independent directors with strict retirement norms - executives at 65 non-executives at 70 and independents at 75. Narendran who has spent over three decades within the Tata Group and has been instrumental in Tata Steel’s global expansion is seen by insiders as a natural fit for the board.