Ratan Tata's Stepmother, Simone Tata Passes Away At 95: Spotlight On The Woman Behind Lakmé And Westside

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Simone Tata passed away today, on 5 December 2025 in Mumbai, and for many Indians, it feels like the end of a chapter that shaped how we think about beauty, fashion, and homegrown brands. As Ratan Tata's stepmother and the mother of Noel Tata, she wasn't just connected to the family by name; she played a defining role in the business legacy they're known for.

Photo Credit: Oneindia

Her final days were spent at Breach Candy Hospital after a brief illness, following earlier treatment in Dubai. Tributes have been pouring in from across the Tata Group and the wider business community and with good reason. Simone didn't just belong to the Tata family, she helped build some of India's most influential consumer brands.

The Early Years Before Lakmé

Simone Naval Dunoyer was born in Geneva, Switzerland. She first came to India in 1953 as a tourist. Two years later, she married Naval H. Tata and became part of one of the country's most respected business families.

Her introduction to India wasn't through a business plan, it was personal. And that personal shift eventually nudged her into a career that would redefine the Indian cosmetic and retail landscape.

Photo Credit: Oneindia

How Simone Tata Transformed Lakmé

Simone joined Lakmé in the early 1960s, when the company was still a modest subsidiary of Tata Oil Mills. At the time, Indian women had very few local beauty brands they could rely on.

Under Simone's leadership, Lakmé didn't just grow, it became a beauty brand across the country. By 1982, she became its Chairperson. Her decisions helped Lakmé become a trusted household name before "Indian beauty industry" was even a phrase people used.

This wasn't glamour from afar. It was hands-on work: understanding women's needs, local preferences, and the importance of affordable products in a growing market.

Building Trent And Changing Indian Retail

When Lakmé was sold to Hindustan Lever in 1996, Simone didn't simply step back. She used the sale proceeds to build something completely new - Trent Ltd.

Trent would go on to launch Westside, which is now one of India's most recognised fashion retail chains. At a time when organised retail was still taking shape in the country, Simone pushed for a clean, accessible, modern shopping experience.

She served as Trent's Non-Executive Chairperson until 2006, shaping its direction long after her corporate peers had moved on.

Her Role Beyond Business

Simone wasn't only about boardrooms and consumer brands. She was active in philanthropic circles and associated closely with the Sir Ratan Tata Institute.

Even in areas where she wasn't front and centre, her influence was firm and steady, the kind that guided without trying to be seen.

Her Final Days And Public Farewell

Simone had been unwell earlier in the year and was treated in Dubai before being moved to Mumbai in August 2025.

She passed away at Breach Candy Hospital, and the Tata family confirmed her death with a statement that focused on what she built - Lakmé, Trent, and an entire approach to Indian retail.

Her last rites are scheduled for 6 December 2025 at the Cathedral of the Holy Name in Colaba.

Photo Credit: Oneindia

Simone Tata's journey was steady, thoughtful, and full of decisions that still shape how millions of Indians shop and dress. Lakmé, Westside, and Trent aren't just brands - they're habits, routines, and memories for generations.

Her passing closes a long and remarkable chapter, but the world she shaped continues around us every day, in every Westside checkout line and every Lakmé product that a person tries.