At 75, J.J. Irani bids adieu to Tata Steel

Dr Jamshed J Irani has stepped down from the board of Tata Steel after serving the company for over four decades. He joined Tata Iron and Steel Company (rechristened Tata Steel) in 1968.

In an announcement to the stock exchanges, Tata Steel said Dr J.J. Irani has stepped down from the board on June 2, 2011, on reaching the age of 75.

Born on June 2, 1936, Dr Irani obtained his master's degree in Geology from the Nagpur University in 1958 and went on to complete his PhD from the University of Sheffield, UK, in 1963.

Dr T. Mukherjee, former Deputy Managing Director, Tata Steel, who was associated with Tata Steel from 1971, said: “It was quite a learning experience working with a visionary like Dr Irani who is known for selecting the right people and giving them a free hand in operations which helped the company as well as people associated with the job.”

He said Dr Irani was associated with the modernisation of steel-making process implemented in 1983 with a mission to emerge a low-cost steel producer in the country. Dr Mukherjee also completed his doctorate at the University of Sheffield, UK.

His caring side

Highlighting the softer side of Dr Irani, Ms Shubra Mukherjee, wife of Dr Mukherjee, recalled an incident about 20 years ago when a 12-year-old girl was operated for tumour and later found suffering from cancer. When the girl's parents wanted to take the child to the south for further treatment, the hospital authorities refused to handover the tumour removed from the girl saying that it was against their rules. When informed, Dr Irani immediately came to the rescue and told the hospital authorities that there were no set of rules when it comes to saving a life.

“Dr Irani may not remember this, but the girl's parents still call us. People may be scared of him, but very few know the caring side of Dr Irani,” she said.

Dr Mukherjee still remembers how he was instrumental in setting up a modern burn cure centre at Jamshedpur after a devastating fire killed 60 workers in the factory in 1989.

Awards

He began his career in 1963 as a Senior Scientific Officer at the BISRA, Sheffield, where he rose to the position of Head, Physical Metallurgy Division. On his return to India, he joined the Tata Iron and Steel Company.

Dr Irani joined the company as assistant to the Director, Research and Development. He was appointed President in 1985 and Managing Director in 1992.

He was appointed non-executive Director on the board in 2001 after he retired as Managing Director. Dr Irani is also a director of several Tata Group companies, including Tata Sons, Tata Motors and Tata Teleservices.

Dr Irani was appointed Chairman of the Expert Committee, set up by the Ministry of Company Affairs in December 2004, to advise the Government on drafting the new Companies Act. He was conferred a honorary Knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2007.

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