Simone Tata, Pioneer Behind Lakmé and Westside, Passes Away at 95
Tata Group pays tribute to the business leader who built Lakmé, created Westside and shaped India’s modern beauty and retail landscape.
Colabaia, Dec 06 : Simone Tata, the influential business leader who transformed Lakmé into India’s premier cosmetics brand and later founded Westside under Trent Ltd, passed away in Mumbai on Friday at the age of 95, the Tata Group announced in an official statement.
“Ms Simone Tata passed away this morning at Breach Candy Hospital after a brief illness. She will always be remembered for her contribution to Lakmé’s growth and for laying the foundation for fashion retail through the Westside chain,” the statement said, adding that she guided several philanthropic initiatives including the Sir Ratan Tata Institute.
Last respects will be offered on Saturday, December 6, between 9 am and 10:30 am at the Cathedral of the Holy Name, Colaba, followed by a memorial mass at 11 am.
Life and Legacy of a Transformative Business Leader
Simone Tata, mother of Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata and stepmother of the late Ratan Tata, recovered from an illness earlier in August 2025. She is survived by Noel Tata, his wife Aloo Mistry, and grandchildren Neville, Maya and Leah Tata.
Despite her low public profile, Simone drew attention in 2022 as the only Tata family member to attend the funeral of Cyrus Mistry, a gesture widely noted given the strained relations between the Tata and Shapoorji Pallonji families.
Born Simone Dunoyer in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1930 to a French-speaking Roman Catholic family, she first visited India in 1953 as a tourist. Her meeting with Naval H Tata during that visit led to a courtship and their marriage in 1955. She then made Mumbai her permanent home, adapting to a vastly different cultural environment while becoming an integral figure in the Tata legacy.
Building Lakmé and Creating Westside
Simone Tata began her corporate journey in 1962, joining the board of Lakmé, then part of Tata Oil Mills (TOMCO). She played a decisive role in shaping Lakmé into a dominant cosmetics brand at a time when India had few homegrown beauty labels.
After Lakmé was sold to Hindustan Lever Ltd in 1996, she used the proceeds to establish Trent Ltd, launching the Westside retail chain now one of India’s largest fashion and lifestyle store networks. She served as Non-Executive Chairperson of Trent until 2006.
Beyond business, Simone contributed significantly to philanthropy, serving as chairperson of the Sir Ratan Tata Institute and trustee of organisations including Children of the World India (CWI) and the India Foundation for the Arts.
