Key Points
- Simone Tata passed away on December 5, 2025, at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai at age 95 after battling Parkinson’s disease
- She was airlifted from Dubai to Mumbai in August 2025 when her Parkinson’s symptoms worsened, including severe tremors and mobility loss
- Transformed Lakmé from a Tata Oil Mills subsidiary into India’s leading cosmetics brand, serving as Chairperson from 1982 to 1996
- Founded Trent Limited and established Westside department stores using proceeds from Lakmé’s 1996 sale to Hindustan Unilever
- Born in Geneva, Switzerland in 1930; married Naval Tata in 1955 after meeting him during a tourist visit to India in 1953
- Mother of current Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata and stepmother to the late Ratan Tata
- Last public appearance was at Ratan Tata’s funeral in October 2024
- Memorial service scheduled for December 6, 2025, at Cathedral of the Holy Name Church in Colaba from 9:00-10:30 AM, followed by mass at 11:00 AM
Simone Tata, the pioneering business leader who shaped India’s beauty and retail industries for over four decades, passed away on Friday, December 5, 2025, at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. She was 95 years old and had been battling Parkinson’s disease, which had significantly worsened in recent months. The mother of Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata and stepmother of the late Ratan Tata was airlifted from King’s Hospital in Dubai to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital in August 2025 when her condition deteriorated, with severe symptoms including tremors and mobility loss.
Dr. Farrukh Udwadia oversaw her medical care during her final months. Simone is survived by her son, Noel Tata, her daughter-in-law, Aloo Mistry (sister of the late Cyrus Mistry), and her grandchildren, Neville, Maya, and Leah. The last respects will be offered on December 6, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM at the Cathedral of the Holy Name Church in Colaba, followed by a memorial mass at 11:00 AM to honour her life and legacy.
From Tourist to Business Icon: A Swiss Woman’s Indian Journey
Born Simone Naval Dunoyer in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1930, she first visited India as a 23-year-old tourist in 1953. During this fateful trip, she met Naval H. Tata, who was divorced and 26 years her senior. After completing her education at the University of Geneva, she married Naval Tata in 1955 and settled permanently in Mumbai, beginning her remarkable transformation into one of India’s most influential businesswomen. She joined the Tata Group’s business world in 1962 when she was appointed to the Lakmé Board, which was then a subsidiary of Tata Oil Mills.
Building India’s Beauty Empire: The Lakmé Legacy
Simone Tata’s most significant contribution came through her visionary leadership of Lakmé, India’s first indigenous cosmetics brand. The brand was originally founded by the Tata Group in 1952 in response to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s urging to create an Indian makeup brand so women wouldn’t have to rely on Western cosmetics. After joining the Lakmé Board in 1962, she served as Managing Director from 1964 and was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors in 1982, a position she held until 1996.
Under her astute leadership, Simone transformed Lakmé into India’s leading cosmetics brand, earning her the title of “cosmetic czarina”. She brought international standards to Indian beauty products while maintaining affordability and cultural relevance, making Lakmé a household name across the country.
Revolutionary Retail Vision: Creating Westside
In 1996, the Tata Group sold Lakmé to Hindustan Lever Limited (now Hindustan Unilever) as part of a strategic restructuring. Rather than stepping away from business, Simone demonstrated her entrepreneurial acumen by using the proceeds from the sale to establish Trent Limited and create the Westside department store chain. This bold move marked a pivotal moment in India’s retail revolution, as Westside went on to become one of the country’s most popular and successful fashion retail chains.
Simone served as Non-Executive Chairperson of Trent Limited until her retirement in 2006, cementing her legacy as a pioneer who laid the foundation for modern fashion retail in India. She also served on the board of Tata Industries Limited, the largest private-sector company in Asia with over 91 units across multiple sectors.
Philanthropic Contributions and Final Years
Beyond her business achievements, Simone Tata guided the work of numerous philanthropic organizations, including the Sir Ratan Tata Institute. The Tata Group’s tribute statement highlighted that “with her positivity and deep resolve, she overcame many challenges in her life while touching many of us deeply”. After her retirement in 2006, she made limited public appearances, though she notably attended Cyrus Mistry’s funeral in 2022—a gesture widely appreciated given the strained relations between the Tata family and Mistry at that time.
Her last public appearance was in October 2024 at the funeral of her stepson, Ratan Tata, who died from complications related to age-related health issues. Following Ratan Tata’s death, her son, Noel Tata, assumed the chairmanship of the Tata Trusts, continuing the family’s legacy of business leadership and philanthropy. The Tata Group’s statement concluded: “May her soul rest in peace and God give us the strength to overcome this loss”.
