AZB Co-Founder Bahram Vakil Set to Replace Noel Tata as Chairman of Trent
Vakil to replace Noel Tata who retires on November 11.
AZB & Partners founder Bahram Vakil will be the next chairman of Tata Group retailer Trent Limited, the company said on Tuesday. He will assume office on November 12, 2026.
He will replace Noel NTata, who retires as chairman and as a director of the company at close of business on November 11.
The move was approved by Trent’s board at its October 29 meeting, according to a disclosure to the stock exchanges.
Vakil currently serves as a non-executive director and non-independent director on Trent’s board.
Vakil’s practice includes restructuring and insolvency, bankruptcy and creditor rights, infrastructure and project finance.
He has an LL.M from Columbia University and is qualified to practise law in India and New York.
He has advised distressed funds, insolvency professionals and banks both domestic and international on several large stressed accounts referred to insolvency resolution by the Reserve Bank of India.
Vakil has also been part of government working groups on financial sector reforms, foreign direct investment and securities market reforms. Other boards he sits on include BASF India, where he is a director. He is also vice-chairman and independent director of Tata Investment Corporation.
Meanwhile, Tata’s retirement is said to be in accordance with Tata Group Governance Guidelines on board composition, board committees and retirement of directors. Tata has been associated with the company since 1997 and after retirement will hold the title of chairman emeritus from November 12.
The board also approved the appointment of lawyer Kalpana Merchant as additional director from October 30. She will become an independent director for a period of three years, pending shareholder approval.
Merchant has over four decades of experience in law, specialising in commercial property transactions, infrastructure, project finance, banking, dispute resolution, capital markets and mergers and acquisitions. She has been associated with Kanga & Co., AZB & Partners and Jerome Merchant + Partners.
The board also approved the appointment of Rajiv Dube as an additional non-executive director and non-independent director from October 30, pending shareholder approval.
