Ratan Tata a man who wore many hats passed away at the age of 86 at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital on October 9. Known for his humility and humanity he led more than 29 companies across over 100 countries. Ratan Tata left behind a legacy that will be challenging for future generations of the Tata Group to carry forward. Currently the Tata Group comprises 29 listed companies each with its own top management team. The question remains: who holds the power to keep these companies unified? Notably the Tata Group management structure makes it different from other industrial houses. So the question arises what is the force that unites all Tata companies and keeps an eye on their operations? No Single Power The Tata conglomerate is loaded with an impressive portfolio of nearly a hundred distinct brands 29 of which are listed in the stock market for public trading. These companies are not the personal property of any single person but collectively held under the umbrella of a singular entity. It simply means that no single person can be pinpointed as the owner of the vast group. The ownership lies in the hands of a trust that has the names of the Tata family members as stakeholders. The Tata Group The Tata Group is spread in a wide range of sectors like - engineering IT materials chemicals consumer goods energy and services. All these sectors function under the management of Tata Sons. Tata Sons was established in 1917 as a trading entity. It has evolved to become the keeper of the Tata brand protecting its trademark. It is worth noting that this entity has the final say in major decisions in the group. 66 percent of Tata Sons is owned by Tata Trusts. The two major trusts are the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust which together hold 50% of Tata Sons’ shares. Who Holds What Share? The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust possesses a 27.98% stake in the Tata Group. The Sir Ratan Tata Trust holds a 23.56% share making it the second-largest stakeholder. The Shapoorji Pallonji Group owns 18.38% of the Tata Group. Other trusts including the JRD Tata Trust Tata Education Trust and Tata Social Welfare Trust each hold shares ranging from 3.73% to 4.01%. The RD Tata Trust has a 2.19% ownership while various other Tata Group companies retain smaller shares. Who Holds The Supreme Power In The Tata Group? Decisions for the ensemble of Tata Group companies lie in the hands of Tata Sons meaning the Chairman of Tata Sons plays a significant role in leading the entire group forward. The principal figure isnt randomly picked but rather selected by a team of seven directors known as the Board of Directors. Currently that key person is N. Chandrasekaran who was appointed as the Chairman of Tata Sons in 2017.