Simone Tata was born Simone Naval Dunoyer in 1930 in Geneva, Switzerland. After completing her studies at Geneva University, she was raised in a multicultural setting. She fell for the country, both personally and professionally, during a personal visit to India in 1953.
A Defining Relationship and Wedding
Simone visited India, where she met Naval H. Tata, a notable figure in the Tata family. Simone’s marriage in 1955 led to her relocation to Mumbai. She also became the stepmother to Ratan Tata and the mother of Noel Tata, along with expanding the Tata family.
From Lakmé to Trent: Professional Growth
In 1962, Simone started working with Lakmé, which was at the time a small division under Tata Oil Mills. She has risen rapidly due to her business sense, and by the early 1970s, she was already serving as a managing director. Progressing further, she assumed the chairperson role in 1982. With her as the head, Lakmé gained the stature of a beauty icon in India.
With the acquisition of Lakmé by Hindustan Lever Limited, we have a major turning point in her career in the mid-1990s. Shortly after, she started Trent Limited and launched the Westside chain. Entering the Fashion and Lifestyle Retail Industry with Tata Group’s Investment Fortified One’s Position as a Visionary and Impactful Leader
Leadership in Various Fields
Simone’s leadership qualities were not limited to the boardroom; she was deeply involved with charitable organizations and the arts. She was a trustee of the Children of the World India Trust and the India Foundation for the Arts. Furthermore, her role as chair of the Sir Ratan Tata Institute reflected her long-standing commitment to social and cultural issues.
Age and Recent Health Updates
Simone Tata is 95 as of 2025, which only adds to her legacy as an influential figure. Not long ago, she was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, where she is receiving treatment for a critical condition. The broad concern and support shown by the public and the corporate sectors combined is reflective of the difference she has created.
Simone’s is a standout profile, and it’s not just because of her Swiss education and the strategic roles she’s held in leadership in India. Her life is a story of unparalleled brainpower, beauty, and unrelenting work.
