Mumbai, Dec 5 (FNO): Simone Tata - the pioneering business leader who transformed India’s beauty and retail landscape - passed away on 5 December 2025 at the age of 95 in a Mumbai hospital. She had been battling a brief illness and was reportedly experiencing health concerns in recent months.

Born in Geneva, Switzerland, Simone Tata moved to India after marrying Naval H. Tata in 1955. Over the decades, she became one of the most influential women in Indian corporate history. She steered Lakmé from a modest subsidiary to a national cosmetics powerhouse, setting the foundation for India’s modern beauty industry.

After Lakmé was sold, she played a decisive role in establishing Trent Ltd., the company behind the successful retail chain Westside, cementing her legacy in India’s fast-growing lifestyle and fashion sector.

Beyond her corporate achievements, Simone Tata was deeply committed to philanthropy. She guided institutions such as the Sir Ratan Tata Institute, contributing to social development and community upliftment.

Tributes poured in from across India’s business world. Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw described her as a “shero” and a “doyen of women business leaders,” praising her courage, elegance, and trailblazing leadership.

According to an official Tata Group statement, a memorial mass and last respects were scheduled for Saturday, 6 December 2025, at the Cathedral of the Holy Name Church in Colaba, Mumbai.

Simone Tata’s passing marks the close of an era. Widely regarded as one of India’s earliest and most impactful businesswomen, she leaves behind a legacy that reshaped both consumer beauty and modern retail in the country.