Simone Tata, the Visionary Behind Lakmé and Trent, Passes Away at 95

Simone Tata, the business leader who played a defining role in turning Lakmé into one of India’s most trusted beauty brands and later laid the groundwork for retail giant Trent, passed away early Friday at the age of 95. She had been recovering from illness and was admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital in August after initial treatment in Dubai.She is survived by her son Noel Tata, daughter-in-law Aloo Mistry, and grandchildren Neville, Maya and Leah. Born Simone Naval Dunoyer in Geneva, Switzerland, her journey to India began in 1953 when she visited as a tourist. Two years later, after marrying Naval H. Tata, her life became closely intertwined with the Tata Group and with the future of Indian consumer businesses.

Her professional association with the conglomerate started in 1961, when she joined the board of Lakmé, then a young subsidiary of Tata Oil Mills Company best known for soap brands such as Hamam and OK. At a time when India relied heavily on imported cosmetics often unsuitable for local needs, Simone Tata pushed for products tailored specifically to Indian skin tones and lifestyles. This vision helped Lakmé evolve from a niche brand into a household name. In 1982, she became chairperson of Lakmé, earning widespread recognition as the “Cosmetic Czarina of India.” Under her leadership, beauty products became more accessible and aspirational for Indian consumers, firmly establishing domestic cosmetics as a viable alternative to international brands.

The liberalisation-driven reshaping of Indian business in the 1990s saw Lakmé enter a 50:50 joint venture with Hindustan Unilever in 1996. Two years later, the company sold its brand portfolio to HUL and fully exited the venture, divesting its stake for an estimated ?3,200 crore. Rather than slowing down, this marked Simone Tata’s pivot into an entirely new frontier fashion and lifestyle retail. Spotting the early opportunity in organised apparel retail, she guided the acquisition of Littlewoods International (India) in 1998, which operated ready-to-wear garment stores. This move was soon followed by the merger of Lakmé and Trent, with the combined entity adopting the Trent name. What followed was the creation of some of India’s most recognisable retail formats, including Westside, Zudio, and more, reshaping how Indians shop for fashion.

Across both beauty and retail, Simone Tata’s work reflected a consistent belief in homegrown brands, consumer-first innovation, and professional governance. Her influence helped build two dynamic industries from the ground up and firmly anchored the Tata Group’s presence in lifestyle businesses that touch everyday lives. As tributes pour in from across industry and public life, India remembers Simone Tata not only as a formidable business leader, but as a quiet architect of the country’s modern consumer landscape someone whose impact continues to be visible in store aisles, fashion collections, and beauty counters nationwide.