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Who is Cyrus Mistry? Businessman with a difference

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CIOL Bureau
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BANGALORE, INDIA: When the news flashed that Cyrus Mistry will succeed Ratan Tata, there was one thing every one wanted to know. Who is he?

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If Cyrus's understated intelligence impressed Ratan Tata to name him as his successor to the Tata Sons group, the decision to pick the not-so-known person has given Ratan Tata a thumbs up.

Cyrus Pallonji Mistry is the youngest son of Irish construction baron Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry and hails from one of the richest Indian families with a net worth of $7.6 billion. But he will be leaving behind his business to take up his new job.

As he says: "I take this responsibility very seriously and in keeping with the values and ethics of the Tata group I will undertake to legally disassociate myself from the management of my family businesses to avoid any issue of conflict of interest,” he said.

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Ratan Tata always wanted someone young to lead the group and 43-rear-old Cyrus just fitted the bill. 

Mistry, currently managing director, Shapoorji Pallonji Group, has been a director of Tata Sons since August 2006. He is a graduate of civil engineering from Imperial College, London, and has a master of science in management from the London Business School.

Till November 23, the day he was apointed the deputy chairman and chairman-designate of Tata Sons, Cyrus Mistry didn't have a Wikipedia page.

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Moments later, he was all over the cyber world. Twitterites unleashed their opinions-- mundane, weird and few serious. One post read: "It's also the age of young guys with foreign moms :) ...Rahul with an Italian Mom & Cyrus Mistry is an Irish citizen -- his mom is Irish!"

Cyrus is married to Rohika Chagla, the daughter of lawyer Iqbal Chagla, and the couple has two sons. His sister, Aloo, is married to Noel Tata, the half-brother of Ratan Tata. His brother-in-law Noel Tata is the CEO of the retail arm of the Tata Group.

It is said that Cyrus is a book worm and a complete foodie. 

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Soon after his appointment, Cyrus posted a humble acknowledgment. “I feel deeply honoured by this appointment. I am aware that an enormous responsibility, with a great legacy, has been entrusted to me. I look forward to Mr Tata’s guidance in the year ahead in meeting the expectations of the group."

And the world is waiting with crossed fingers.



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