N. Chandrasekaran

N. Chandrasekaran
Born	Natarajan Chandrasekaran Template:Birth year and age
Birthplace	Tamil Nadu, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Business executive
Title	Chairman, Tata Sons
Known for	Chairman of Tata Sons; former CEO and Managing Director of Tata Consultancy Services
Awards	Life Governor, New York Academy of Sciences (2025)

Natarajan Chandrasekaran, commonly known as N. Chandrasekaran or Chandra, is an Indian business executive who serves as the Chairman of Tata Sons, the principal holding company of the Tata Group, one of India's largest and most diversified conglomerates. Before assuming the chairmanship in 2017, Chandrasekaran spent over two decades at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), rising through the ranks to become the company's Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, a role in which he oversaw significant revenue growth and global expansion. His career trajectory — from a small town in Tamil Nadu to the helm of a multi-billion-dollar industrial group spanning sectors from information technology and steel to automotive and consumer goods — has made him one of the most prominent corporate leaders in India. In 2025, the Tata Sons board approved a five-year extension of Chandrasekaran's tenure as Chairman, extending his leadership through 2032 as the group navigates a major capital expenditure cycle across its portfolio of companies.

Early Life

Natarajan Chandrasekaran was born in 1963 in Tamil Nadu, India. Details regarding his family background and upbringing remain largely private. He grew up in Tamil Nadu before pursuing higher education in science and technology, disciplines that would form the foundation of his subsequent career in the information technology industry.

Career

Tata Consultancy Services

Chandrasekaran joined Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the flagship information technology services company of the Tata Group, early in his career. Over more than two decades at TCS, he held a series of progressively senior positions across the organization's global operations. He eventually rose to the position of Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of TCS, where he was responsible for steering the company's strategic direction, client relationships, and operational growth. Under his leadership, TCS consolidated its position as one of the world's largest IT services firms by market capitalization and revenue.

Chandrasekaran's tenure at TCS was marked by the company's expansion into new markets and service areas, including digital transformation, cloud computing, and consulting services. His experience at TCS provided him with deep familiarity with the global technology landscape, enterprise clients across industries, and the operational complexities of managing a workforce of hundreds of thousands of employees spread across dozens of countries.

Chairman of Tata Sons

In February 2017, Chandrasekaran was appointed Chairman of Tata Sons, succeeding interim chairman Ratan Tata following a period of leadership transition at the conglomerate. The appointment made Chandrasekaran the first professional manager from outside the Tata family to hold the chairmanship on a permanent basis. As Chairman of Tata Sons, he assumed oversight of the Tata Group's portfolio of over 100 operating companies across sectors including information technology, steel, automotive, consumer products, chemicals, hospitality, telecommunications, and financial services.

Chandrasekaran's chairmanship has been characterized by efforts to streamline the Tata Group's portfolio, improve operational efficiency across group companies, and invest in emerging growth areas. His leadership has spanned a period of significant strategic activity within the group, including consolidation in the telecommunications and airline sectors, expansion in electronics manufacturing, and investments in semiconductor fabrication and electric vehicles.

Third Term Extension (2025)

In October 2024, Tata Trusts — the majority shareholder of Tata Sons — passed a unanimous resolution backing the extension of Chandrasekaran's tenure as Chairman for a third term. By mid-2025, this decision moved to the Tata Sons board for formal approval, with the extension described as a reflection of the group's desire for leadership continuity during a major capital expenditure cycle across its companies.

Forbes India reported that the decision to extend Chandrasekaran's tenure was expected to dominate the agenda of the Tata Sons board meeting scheduled for June 2025, describing the extension as "likely" given the backing already expressed by Tata Trusts. Republic World reported that Chandrasekaran, then 64 years old, was expected to receive another five-year term extension.

On June 24, 2025, it was confirmed that the Tata Sons board had approved a five-year extension for Chandrasekaran, keeping him in the chairmanship through 2032. This marked his third consecutive term at the helm of the Tata Group's holding company, underscoring the trust's and the board's confidence in his stewardship of the conglomerate during a period of significant strategic investment. The extension was reported as notable given the scale of capital expenditure commitments across the Tata Group's portfolio, including investments in semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicles, and digital infrastructure.

Views on Artificial Intelligence and Employment

In June 2025, amid growing concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on employment in the information technology sector, Chandrasekaran publicly addressed the issue of job reductions at TCS. He stated that planned job cuts at TCS were "not related to AI," and emphasized the need for "human-centric AI" as the company continued to evolve its operations.

Chandrasekaran's remarks came at a time of heightened public and industry debate over whether automation and AI technologies would lead to widespread displacement of workers in the IT services industry. His comments were interpreted by some industry observers as an effort to distinguish between routine workforce adjustments and structural changes driven by technological disruption. CNBC-TV18 noted that Chandrasekaran's statements at an AI summit, alongside similar remarks by other technology leaders, suggested that the adoption of AI might lead to the creation of new categories of employment rather than simply reducing headcount.

Recognition

Life Governor, New York Academy of Sciences

In December 2025, the New York Academy of Sciences recognized Chandrasekaran as a Life Governor, its most recent appointment to the role. The honor was conferred during a ceremony held in Mumbai. The Academy described the recognition as a reflection of Chandrasekaran's contributions to the intersection of science, technology, and business leadership.

The New York Academy of Sciences, founded in 1817, is one of the oldest scientific organizations in the United States. The position of Life Governor is conferred on a limited basis and is considered one of the Academy's most significant designations. Chandrasekaran's appointment placed him among a select group of global leaders recognized by the institution for their impact on science and society.

Other Honors

Throughout his career, Chandrasekaran has received various awards and honors from industry bodies, governments, and academic institutions in recognition of his leadership roles at TCS and Tata Sons. He has been cited on multiple global lists of influential business leaders.

Legacy

Chandrasekaran's career represents a significant chapter in the history of the Tata Group, one of India's oldest and most prominent industrial conglomerates. His appointment as Chairman of Tata Sons in 2017 marked a departure from the tradition of family-linked leadership at the group, establishing a precedent for professional management at the apex of the Tata corporate structure.

The decision by Tata Trusts and the Tata Sons board to extend his chairmanship through 2032 — encompassing three consecutive terms — indicates a sustained institutional commitment to his leadership approach. The extension comes during a period in which the Tata Group has undertaken large-scale investments across several sectors, including semiconductor manufacturing, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, electric mobility, and airline operations, positioning the group for growth in areas identified as strategic priorities for India's economic development.

Chandrasekaran's public comments on artificial intelligence and its relationship to employment in the IT sector have contributed to ongoing national and global conversations about technology-driven economic change. His emphasis on human-centric AI, articulated while leading both a major IT services company and a diversified industrial conglomerate, has positioned him as a prominent voice in debates about the future of work and the responsible deployment of emerging technologies.

As Chairman through 2032, Chandrasekaran is expected to continue overseeing one of the most capital-intensive periods in the Tata Group's modern history, with investment commitments spanning infrastructure, manufacturing, and technology across India and internationally.