Cyrus Mistry: From Head Of Shapoorji Pallonji Group To Youngest Chairman Of Tata Sons. 10 Facts About Him

Cyrus Mistry was the second person from outside the Tata family to head the group as Tata Sons Chairman.

Former chairman of Tata Sons, Cyrus Mistry

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Former chairman of Tata Sons, Cyrus Mistry, died in a car accident in Palghar while travelling from Ahmedabad to Mumbai on Sunday. Mistry was travelling in a Mercedes car that lost control and rammed into a divider. Three other persons were travelling with him. While one of them died, the two others have been admitted to hospital in Gujarat in an injured condition. Well-known gynaecologist in Mumbai, Anahita Pandole, who was driving the car, and her husband Darius Pandole survived, while Darius’s brother Jahangir Pandole and Mistry died.

Here are 10 facts about the 54-year-old businessman, who became the chairman of the Tata Sons on December 28, 2012 after Ratan Tata's resignation.

• Mistry was the sixth and youngest, at the age of 44, to become the Chairman of Tata Sons. He was the second person from outside the Tata family to head the group as Tata Sons Chairman.
• Mistry succeeded his father Pallonji, who was the single largest shareholder of Tata Sons with 18.5 per cent stake. In 2006, Cyrus, 38 then, was appointed on board of Tata Sons after his father retired. He was also a director on Tata Power and Tata Elxsi board.
• During his tenure as Chairman of Tata Sons, Mistry focussed on profitability and sustainability. He took several decisions to get rid of non-performing assets, including sale of the UK assets of Tata Steel, and shutting down the soda ash and calcium chloride plant of Tata Chemicals at Winnington in UK.
• Before being picked to become Chairman of Tata Sons, Mistry was the managing director of Shapoorji Pallonji Group. In 1991, he entered the family business, becoming director of its flagship construction company, Shapoorji Pallonji & Co. Ltd. His brother, Shapoor, directed the group's real-estate business, and their father continued as chairman of the board of directors.
• Mistry was appointed the managing director of Shapoorji Pallonji in 1994. During his two decades at the helm of Shapoorji Pallonji & Co, the company continued its expansion beyond traditional construction to large engineering projects.
• During his reign, Shapoorji Pallonji's construction business grew from a turnover of USD 20 million to almost USD 1.5 billion. It also continued to grow overseas, undertaking projects in the Middle East and Africa.
• Under Mistry’s leadership, the SP group registered many firsts in India - construction of the tallest residential towers, longest rail bridge, largest dry dock and the largest affordable housing project.
• Born in then Bombay on July 4, 1968, Mistry was an Irish citizen, through his mother who was an Irish. Soft spoken and candid, he is known to enjoy playing golf and was also a prolific reader.
• Mistry’s sister Aloo is married to Noel Tata, Ratan Tata's half-brother.
• Mistry graduated in civil engineering from the Imperial College, London, and was also an M.Sc in management from the London School of Business.