MUMBAI: Harish Bhat, a long-serving Tata executive, has resigned from Trent, the retailer chaired by Noel Tata, citing growing personal and professional commitments.Bhat, 63, served on Trent’s board for 12 years. An alumnus of BITS Pilani and IIM Ahmedabad, he continues to serve on the boards of Tata Starbucks and Infiniti Retail (Croma).In his resignation letter to Noel, Bhat described his tenure on Trent’s board as a “pleasure and privilege”, crediting Tata’s leadership for the company’s rapid growth and transformation.Bhat is the only member of former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry’s inner circle to remain within the Tata group after Mistry’s acrimonious split with the conglomerate in 2016.His resignation has revived debate about shifting loyalties within India’s largest conglomerate. Nirmalya Kumar, who also served on Mistry’s core team, wrote in a LinkedIn post that Bhat was “the first, and only member” of the group executive council “to switch sides to the new regime when Mistry was fired and go to the press with it”. Kumar argued that the move helped secure Bhat’s position during current chairman N Chandrasekaran’s era, albeit at a cost. “The reward was continued employment during N Chandrasekaran era with a honorific title but no power”.As the balance of power gradually shifts towards Noel, some Tata group observers see Bhat’s departure as another sign of changing dynamics within the conglomerate. Kumar, who returned to academia after his stint with the Tata group, said the transition was prompting a fresh realignment of loyalties. “Now tables are turning from Chandra to Noel Tata and it’s time to sing praises to Noel Tata! Just like the Tata board, many of these political professionals are looking to unemployment!” he said.During Bhat’s career with the Tata group, he held several senior leadership roles, including brand custodian at Tata Sons, managing director of Tata Global Beverages, and chief operating officer of Titan’s watches and accessories business.
