Ratan Tata is one of the most influential business magnate India has ever seen. He has been significant in the growth of the 148-year-old Tata Group, India's largest conglomerate, which has a collective revenue of over $ 100 billion. Some of Tata Group's major companies are Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Consultancy Services and Tata Communications. 

Ratan Tata, 78, is the chariman of Tata Sons (Tata Group's holding company) for an interim term of four months from October 24, 2016 when the company's board removed Cyrus Mistry from the top job. Earlier, he chaired the conglomerate from 1991 to 2012. 

Ratan Tata, who led the group into some notable acquisitions, starting from Tetley for $450 million in 2000, to steelmaker Corus in 2007 and the landmark Jaguar Land Rover in 2008 for $2.3 billion. 

During Ratan Tata's earlier tenure, the group's revenues grew manifold, totalling $100.09 billion (around Rs 475,721 crore) in 2011-12 from a turnover of a mere Rs 10,000 crore in 1991. 

The veteran industrialist retired on December 29, 2012, when he turned 75 and Cyrus Mistry was appointed as his successor. But he returned in 2016 to replace Mistry. 

Recipient of Padma Bhushan in 2000 and Padma Vibhushan in 2008, Ratan Tata continues to head the main two Tata trusts Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust and their allied Trusts, with a combined stake of 66% in Tata Sons.