Ratan Tata's Protégé Shantanu Naidu's Top Role at Tata Motors Likely Aimed At EV Vision

Shantanu Naidu, the protégé of the late industrialist Ratan Tata, has been named the general manager and head of the strategic initiatives at Tata Motors, becoming one of the youngest in the company to hold the title. Naidu will now be leading the department, which is the driving force behind the EV vision, carbon neutrality and net zero, as per the people in the know.

It is also likely that he will be reporting directly to Balaje Rajan, chief strategy officer (PV&EV) at Tata Motors.

"I remember when my father used to walk home from the Tata Motors plant, in his white shirt and navy pants, and I would wait for him in the window. It comes full circle now," Naidu wrote in his LinkedIn post.

Naidu, who completed a master's degree in business administration from Cornell University, was also the youngest manager at Tata Trusts. He was frequently seen with Ratan Tata as the duo worked together on Naidu's 'Motopaws' project. He had approached the late industrialist for help with the same.

The duo also worked together on the Goodfellows initiative that is aimed at providing companionship to the elderly.

Last year, on Oct. 9, Ratan Tata passed away at a Mumbai hospital. In his will he had relinquished his stake in the Goodfellows project and also contributed to paying up all his education loans overseas.