Business Built on Shovelling Limestone

THE man who today bought Jaguar built his business on the experience of shovelling limestone in Indian steel works.

Born into a wealthy family, Ratan Tata was educated at Campion, one of Mumbai’s top schools.

The 70-year-old went on to study in the USA at Cornell University, before returning to India and the family business set up by his greatgrandfather Jamsetji Tata.

In 1962, he was sent straight to the shop floor to begin his education, shovelling limestone at steel works in Jamshedpur.

Indian sources said it was his shopfloor experience which helped him stick to the company’s five founding principles of integrity, understanding, excellence, unity and responsibility.

Mr Tata had been seeking a successor to take over the business as he neared the company’s compulsory retirement age of 70.

But after finding nobody suitable, the age was extended to 75 to allow him to continue.

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