Written by Allycaral Desk
Simone Tata, the pioneering business leader who transformed Lakmé into India’s most recognisable beauty brand and laid the foundation for the retail giant Trent Ltd, passed away early Friday at the age of 95. She had been recovering from an illness and was undergoing treatment at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital since August, following initial care at King’s Hospital in Dubai.
She is survived by her son Noel Tata, daughter-in-law Aloo Mistry, and grandchildren Neville, Maya, and Leah. She was also the stepmother of former Tata Group chairman, Ratan Tata.
From Geneva to India: A Remarkable Journey
Born Simone Naval Dunoyer in Geneva, Switzerland, she first visited India as a tourist in 1953. Love brought her back to the country, and in 1955 she married Naval H. Tata. Her association with the Tata Group began in the early 1960s, marking the start of one of India’s most impactful corporate careers.
Shaping India’s First Homegrown Beauty Powerhouse
Simone Tata’s formal entry into the Tata business ecosystem came in 1961 when she joined the board of Lakmé, then a small subsidiary of Tata Oil Mills Company (TOMCO), which was known for brands like Hamam and Modi Soaps.
At a time when India’s beauty market was either dominated by foreign brands or underserved, she envisioned a cosmetics line created specifically for Indian women. Under her leadership, Lakmé grew from a modest company into a pioneering, trusted Indian beauty brand. In 1982, she became chairperson, earning the title “Cosmetic Czarina of India.”
The HUL Era and a Strategic Pivot
In the post-liberalisation period, Lakmé Ltd entered a 50:50 joint venture with Hindustan Unilever to create Lakmé Unilever Ltd in 1996, combining Lakmé’s cosmetic strength with select HUL brands.
Two years later, in 1998, Lakmé divested its brands to HUL in a landmark deal valued at approximately ₹200 crore.
The sale marked a turning point. Instead of exiting the consumer space, Simone Tata shifted focus to retail—an industry then ripe for organised players. This vision led to the creation of Trent Ltd.
The Birth of Trent Ltd
After the sale to HUL, the company began its transformation by acquiring Littlewoods International (India) in March 1998, which was engaged in ready-to-wear retail. Lakmé Ltd was later merged with Trent, and the entity was officially renamed Trent Ltd, laying the foundation for a powerful homegrown retail empire.
Today, Trent operates successful formats like Westside and Zudio, both of which stand as testaments to Simone Tata’s foresight, strategy, and belief in modern Indian retail.
A Legacy Etched in Corporate History
Simone Tata’s contributions shaped two major Indian industries—beauty and retail. Her leadership style, long-term vision, and pioneering spirit continue to influence India’s consumer landscape. Her passing marks the end of an era, but her legacy lives on in every Lakmé product, every Westside store, and every woman she empowered to embrace beauty confidently.
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