N. Chandrasekaran

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

Natarajan Chandrasekaran (born 1963), 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 February 2017, Chandrasekaran spent over two decades at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), rising through the ranks to become its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. Under his leadership, TCS grew into one of the world's largest information technology services companies by market capitalization and revenue. As Chairman of Tata Sons, he has overseen a period of significant transformation across the Tata Group's portfolio of companies, spanning industries from technology and steel to aviation and consumer goods. In 2025, the Tata Sons board approved a third five-year term for Chandrasekaran as Chairman, extending his tenure until 2032, reflecting the group's desire for leadership continuity during a major capital expenditure cycle. He was also recognized as a Life Governor of the New York Academy of Sciences in December 2025.

Early Life

Natarajan Chandrasekaran was born in 1963 in Mohanur, a small town in the Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu, India. He grew up in a modest household in rural Tamil Nadu. Details of his early childhood and family background remain largely private, though he has been noted in Indian media for his origins in a small-town setting that contrasted with the global corporate stages he would eventually occupy.

Chandrasekaran pursued higher education in science and technology, a path that would prove foundational to his career in the information technology industry. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in applied sciences before continuing to postgraduate studies in computer applications. These academic pursuits equipped him with a strong technical background that he carried into his professional life at Tata Consultancy Services, which he joined early in his career.

Education

Chandrasekaran holds a Master of Computer Applications (MCA) degree. His academic training in computer science and applied sciences provided the technical grounding that shaped his trajectory in the IT services industry. He later complemented this technical education with extensive management experience gained over decades within the Tata Group.

Career

Tata Consultancy Services

Chandrasekaran joined Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in 1987 as a software programmer. Over the course of nearly three decades, he rose through a succession of roles within the company, gaining experience across diverse geographies and business functions. He took on responsibilities in areas including delivery management, business development, and the management of large-scale client relationships across North America, Europe, and Asia.

He was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of TCS in 2009. During his tenure as CEO, TCS experienced a period of substantial growth, expanding its global workforce and client base significantly. TCS grew to become one of the most valuable companies listed on the Indian stock exchanges and one of the largest IT services firms globally by revenue and market capitalization. The company's performance under Chandrasekaran's leadership was characterized by consistent revenue growth and the expansion of its digital services capabilities.

Chandrasekaran served as CEO of TCS until early 2017, when he was elevated to the chairmanship of the parent company, Tata Sons.

In June 2025, addressing recent workforce reductions at TCS, Chandrasekaran stated that the company's planned job cuts were not driven by artificial intelligence. He emphasized the importance of a human-centric approach to AI, indicating that the layoffs were a function of broader business dynamics rather than the replacement of human workers by automated systems.

Chairman of Tata Sons

In February 2017, Chandrasekaran was appointed Chairman of Tata Sons, succeeding interim chairman Ratan Tata, who had returned to the role following the removal of Cyrus Mistry in October 2016. The appointment made Chandrasekaran the first non-Parsi and the first professional manager from within the Tata Group's operating companies to lead Tata Sons in the modern era. His selection was seen as a move to bring operational discipline and technology-driven thinking to the helm of the conglomerate.

As Chairman, Chandrasekaran oversees a vast portfolio of companies under the Tata Group umbrella, which includes businesses in information technology, steel, automobiles, consumer products, financial services, telecommunications, hospitality, and aviation. The group comprises over 30 companies, many of which are publicly listed, and operates in more than 100 countries.

Under Chandrasekaran's chairmanship, the Tata Group has undertaken several significant strategic initiatives. These include the consolidation of the group's airline businesses, investments in new manufacturing capabilities (including semiconductor fabrication and electric vehicle production), and the expansion of its digital and technology platforms. The group has also pursued a strategy of simplification, reducing the number of overlapping businesses and focusing on synergies among its constituent companies.

First and Second Terms

Chandrasekaran's initial five-year term as Chairman ran from February 2017 to early 2022. He was reappointed for a second five-year term, which was set to conclude in 2027. During both terms, the Tata Group undertook a major capital expenditure cycle across several of its key businesses, including steel, automotive, and technology.

Third Term Extension

In October 2024, Tata Trusts, the majority shareholder of Tata Sons, passed a unanimous resolution supporting the extension of Chandrasekaran's tenure as Chairman for a third term. The formal board consideration of this extension was scheduled for a meeting in Mumbai in June 2025.

On June 24, 2025, the Tata Sons board approved Chandrasekaran's third five-year term as Chairman, extending his leadership until 2032. At the time of the extension, Chandrasekaran was 64 years old. The decision reflected the group's preference for leadership continuity during a period of large-scale capital deployment across multiple businesses, including investments in semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicles, battery cell production, and aviation infrastructure.

According to NDTV Profit, the extension was driven in part by the scale and complexity of the capital expenditure cycle underway across the Tata Group, with the board seeking stability at the top as multiple billion-dollar projects moved through various stages of execution. Forbes India reported that the decision to back Chandrasekaran's extension was expected to dominate the board meeting agenda, underscoring the significance of the move for the group's strategic direction.

The Economic Times reported that following the board's approval, an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of Tata Sons shareholders would be convened to formally ratify the extension. The process followed a structured governance pathway, with Tata Trusts—which hold approximately 66% of Tata Sons—having already signaled their support months earlier through the October 2024 resolution.

The third-term extension was notable given the relatively rare occurrence of such long tenures in the chairmanship of Tata Sons. The decision indicated the confidence of Tata Trusts and the board in Chandrasekaran's stewardship of the group during a transformative period in its history.

Views on Artificial Intelligence

Chandrasekaran has spoken publicly about the role of artificial intelligence in the corporate sector. In June 2025, he addressed concerns about the impact of AI on employment at TCS, stating that the company's recent layoffs were not related to artificial intelligence. He stressed the need for AI to be developed and deployed in a manner that is centered on human capabilities and needs, rather than as a tool for workforce replacement. His remarks came amid broader global debates about the impact of AI-driven automation on employment in the technology services industry.

Personal Life

Chandrasekaran is known to be an avid marathon runner and has participated in several long-distance running events. He maintains a relatively private personal life compared to many global business leaders of comparable stature. He resides in Mumbai, India, where the headquarters of Tata Sons and most major Tata Group companies are located.

Recognition

New York Academy of Sciences Life Governorship

In December 2025, the New York Academy of Sciences recognized Chandrasekaran as a Life Governor during a ceremony held in Mumbai. The honor acknowledged his contributions to business leadership and his role at the helm of the Tata Group. The New York Academy of Sciences, founded in 1817, is one of the oldest scientific organizations in the United States, and the Life Governor designation is among its most distinguished recognitions.

Other Honors

Chandrasekaran has received numerous industry and leadership awards over the course of his career. He has been featured on multiple lists of influential business leaders published by international media outlets. His elevation to the chairmanship of Tata Sons, and subsequently his reappointments for second and third terms, have been subjects of extensive coverage in Indian and international business media.

The approval of his third term in June 2025 was covered by outlets including NDTV Profit, Forbes India, The Economic Times, Republic World, and NewsBytes, reflecting the significance of the decision within the Indian and global business landscape.

Legacy

As of 2025, Chandrasekaran's legacy is most closely associated with his dual role in building TCS into one of the world's largest IT services companies and in leading the Tata Group through a period of significant strategic transformation. His appointment as Chairman of Tata Sons marked a departure from historical precedent, as he was the first professional manager from the group's operating companies to assume the top leadership role in the modern era.

Under his chairmanship, the Tata Group has embarked on some of its most ambitious investment programs in decades, spanning semiconductors, electric mobility, renewable energy, aviation, and digital infrastructure. The decision by Tata Trusts and the Tata Sons board to extend his tenure through 2032 suggests an institutional judgment that continuity of leadership is essential as these capital-intensive initiatives move toward maturity.

Chandrasekaran's comments on the relationship between AI and employment, particularly his assertion that TCS layoffs were not AI-driven and his advocacy for human-centric approaches to technology, have contributed to broader public discourse on the future of work in the technology sector.

His recognition by the New York Academy of Sciences as a Life Governor in 2025 placed him among a select group of global leaders honored by the institution, further solidifying his standing in the international business and scientific communities.