Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw mourns Simone Tata, calls her 'doyen of women business leaders'

She is survived by her son Noel Tata, daughter-in-law Aloo Mistry, and grandchildren Neville, Maya and Leah.

Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw on Friday conveyed her sorrow following the death of Simone Tata, the former chairperson of Lakmé and one of the most influential figures in India’s beauty and retail landscape.

In a message shared on X, Mazumdar-Shaw described her as a personal inspiration, writing, “Deeply saddened that my shero is no more,” and referred to her as the “doyen of women business leaders”. She added that she had “hugely admired her acumen & courage to pioneer Lakme as a cosmetic era in India,” noting that “her rich legacy is etched in history forever” while extending condolences to Noel Tata and the family.

Simone Tata passed away at the age of 95 on Friday morning at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital after a short period of illness. She was the mother of Tata Trusts chairperson Noel Tata and the stepmother of the late Ratan Tata.

The Tata Group confirmed her death and stated that final rites would take place on Saturday morning at the Cathedral of the Holy Name Church in Colaba. In its statement, the Group said she “will always be remembered for her contribution to the growth of Lakmé as India’s leading cosmetic brand and for laying the foundation for fashion retail with the Westside chain”. The statement added that she had also provided direction to several charitable institutions, “including the Sir Ratan Tata Institute”.

Born Simone Naval Dunoyer in Geneva in 1953, she first came to India as a traveller. Her marriage to Naval H. Tata two years later marked the beginning of a long association with the Tata Group. In 1961, she joined the board of Lakmé, then functioning as a small division under Tata Oil Mills Company (TOMCO).

Over the following decades, she steered the brand into becoming one of the country’s most identifiable names in beauty and personal care. She became chairperson in 1982, and her work eventually earned her the moniker “Cosmetic Czarina of India” for her role in shaping India’s modern cosmetics sector.

In its tribute, the Tata 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.”

She is survived by her son Noel Tata, daughter-in-law Aloo Mistry, and grandchildren Neville, Maya and Leah.