Cyrus Mistry, head of India’s Shapoorji Pallonji Group and former chairman of Tata Sons, was killed in a car accident near Mumbai today (September 4).
“The accident happened around 3.15pm when Mistry was travelling from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. The accident happened on a bridge over the Surya River. It appeared to be a accident,” local police said.
There are four people in the car. Mistry and one other person died at the scene. Two other people have been taken to hospital, police said.
Who is Cyrus Mistry?
Mistry, 54, led Tata Group, one of India’s largest business groups, from 2012 to 2014.
He is the youngest son of business tycoon Palongi Mistry. Mistry, 38, started his job at Tata in 2006, succeeding his father who had retired from the company’s board.
In 2011, he was appointed as Deputy Chairman of Tata Sons, eventually succeeding the retiring then-CEO Ratan Tata.
However, Mistry’s tenure came to an abrupt end in October 2016 after a long period of corporate intrigue and bad blood. He was replaced by N Chandrasekaran.
“Major loss” of Indian business
Mourning pours in with news of Mistry’s death.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a “major loss” for business and industry.
Friends and fellow industrialists of the late businessman called the tragedy “indigestible” and called Mistry “a man of substance.”
“I knew Cyrus well Tata during his brief tenure as Speaker of the House. I am sure he was destined to be great. If life had other plans for him, then So be it, but life itself should not be taken from him. Om Shanti,” said industrialist Anand Mahindra.
