Simone Tata — the Swiss-born business leader who helped build Lakme into India’s first major cosmetics brand and later shaped Trent and the Westside retail chain — passed away on Friday at the age of 95.
A towering influence in the Tata Group’s consumer and retail journey, she died after a brief illness at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital, where she had been admitted following initial treatment in Dubai.
Simone Tata was also the mother of Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata and stepmother of the late industrialist Ratan Tata.
The Tata Group said Simone Tata will be laid to rest at the Cathedral of the Holy Name Church in Colaba.
“She will always be remembered for her contribution to the growth of Lakme as India’s leading cosmetic brand and for laying the foundation for fashion retail with the Westside chain. She also guided the work of many philanthropic organisations, including the Sir Ratan Tata Institute,” the group said.
“With her positivity and deep resolve, she overcame many challenges in her life while touching many of us deeply. May her soul rest in peace, and God give us the strength to overcome this loss.”
Simone Tata is survived by her son Noel Tata, daughter-in-law Aloo Mistry, and grandchildren Neville, Maya and Leah.
Born in Switzerland, Simone Tata came to India in the early 1950s, where she met Naval H Tata. The two married in 1955, after which she made Mumbai her permanent home. Armed with an education from Geneva University, she soon stepped into the Tata business world.
Her association with Lakme began in the early 1960s when she joined the board of the then Tata Oil Mills subsidiary. She quickly became central to the brand’s turnaround. Appointed managing director in 1961 and later chairperson in 1982, Simone Tata helped Lakme become India’s most recognisable cosmetics name at a time when few global beauty brands had a presence in the country.
Lakme was eventually sold to Hindustan Lever Limited in 1996. Using the proceeds, Simone Tata set up Trent, which went on to launch Westside — a retail brand that remains a cornerstone of the Tata Group’s consumer business.