Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran skips AGM amid Air India tragedy crisis

Mumbai: Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran on Thursday skipped the Annual General Meeting of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), marking his absence from a shareholder gathering of the group for the second consecutive day.

TCS' Company Secretary Yashaswin Sheth informed shareholders of the largest IT services company in India that Chairman Chandrasekaran will not be able to attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) due to "some exigencies".

Chandrasekaran could not attend the Tata Consumer Products AGM on Wednesday, reportedly because of his focus on the tragic crash of group company Air India's plane from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick last week, which has resulted in the loss of at least 270 people, including 241 passengers and crew of the aircraft.

It can be noted that Chandrasekaran was elevated to Tata Sons as the chairman in 2017, after being the CEO of TCS for eight years.

Sheth said the company directors have elected independent director Keki Mistry to preside over as the chairman for the AGM.

"This is a very difficult time for us at the Tata Group. We are all deeply saddened. This is an unimaginable tragedy that has resulted in so many losses of lives. Words can be of no consolation right now," Mistry, a finance industry veteran, said.

"Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the people who have lost their lives. Tata Group stands in solidarity with the affected people in these challenging times," he added.

The TCS board paid a tribute to all the victims of the crash by observing a minute's silence before beginning the proceedings of the meeting.