Simone Tata retires yielding place to new Trent Chairman

Kolkata, Oct 30 (UNI) Mr Farrokh K kavarana, one of the Directors of Trent Ltd, was today appointed Chairman of the company succeeding Ms Simone N Tata.

Ms Tata retired in keeping with the policy of the Tata Group, a company statement said tonight.

She had joined the Board of Lakme in 1962 when it was a subsidiary company of Tata Oil Mills. She was appointed Managing Director in 1964 and Chairman in 1982. Under her guidance and leadership, Lakme became India's premier cosmetic company with the highest brand recall in the country.

Ms Tata guided the fortunes of Trent, the retail arm of the Tata Group which was established in 1998, first by acquiring the Littlewoods retailing business in India and then overseeing the expansion of Westside over the last six years. Under her guidance Trent grew to be a respected leader in the Indian retailing industry and was recently awarded the Best Retailer of the Year by NDTV.

Trent was currently operating three national retail brands--Westside, Landmark and Star India Bazaar.

Mr Kavarana started his career with Tatas in 1975 as a Director of Tata Industries Limited and Managing Director of Tata AG, Switzerland.

He was appointed Director of Tata Sons Limited in 1991. He was presently Chairman of the two Tata AIG Insurance companies, as well as the Chairman of Tata Projects Ltd, and of Tata Asset Management Co Ltd.

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