Tributes from across Midlands for business tycoon Ratan Tata

Tributes from across the Midlands were paid last week to Indian businessman and philanthropist Ratan Tata, who via the giant Tata Group, rescued Jaguar Land Rover, helping to securing the car maker's future and creating countless regional jobs.

Born in 1937 in India, Tata led his family's conglomerate (Tata Group) on a global expansion and, despite the multiple industries the behemoth ventured into, deals he struck within UK steel and UK car-making cannot be underestimated.

He died last week, aged 86, in hospital in Mumbai.

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In car-making, a sector ingrained in the fabric of the West Midlands, the key deal was the purchase in 2008 of Jaguar Land Rover from US car manufacturing titan Ford for £1.75bn.

That followed the acquisition of British tea firm Tetley in 2000 for US$432 million and the Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus in 2007 for US$13bn.

A statement from Warwick university's vice chancellor Stuart Croft noted the "great sadness" felt at the news of Tata's death. Croft described him as a "visionary leader and a cherished friend" of our University and region.

"Throughout his remarkable career, he led Tata Group with profound effectiveness, rescuing Jaguar Land Rover and in doing so, creating jobs and securing futures for countless people in the West Midlands. His extraordinary contributions were rightly honoured when he was made a Freeman of the City of Coventry," he said.

"Together with our own Lord Bhattacharyya, Mr Tata was instrumental in establishing the National Automotive Innovation Centre, a beacon of research and development that has left an indelible mark on the automotive industry," he added.

Coventry City Council said the investment of Tata Steel into Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) had enhanced and protected the status of car manufacturing in the region, the JLR brand and particularly the employment of its employees and many subsidy suppliers, supported by the Warwick Manufacturing Group.

CEO of JLR Adrian Mardell also put out a statement, highlighting that Tata's personal achievements and legacy were "unequalled" in society, and that the mark he has left on the business and its brands was "greater than that of any other individual".

"Mr. Tata led us on an extraordinary journey. He inspired incredible new chapters in our history. Under his generous and trusting guidance, we have felt deeply proud to be part of the Tata story," he said.

Tata Group recorded revenue of US$165 billion in 2023-24.