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Born and brought up in Pune, Naidu completed his engineering degree from Savitribai Phule Pune University in 2014.
Ratan Tata and Shantanu Naidu (File)
Late industrialist Ratan Tata’s close aide Shantanu Naidu on Tuesday announced a career move in the Tata Group. He revealed that he has been appointed as the General Manager of the Strategist Initiatives wing in Tata Motors.
“I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as General Manager, Head – Strategic Initiatives at Tata Motors! I remember when my father used to walk home from the Tata Motors plant in his white shirt and navy pants, and I would wait for him in the window. It comes full circle now,” Naidu shared his accomplishment in a post on LinkedIn.
From developing a bond through their mutual love for animals to working closely for several years, the Tata and Naidu had shared a lasting friendship, with Tata playing a strong role in Naidu’s life and career.
Who Is Shantanu Naidu?
Born and brought up in Pune, Naidu completed his engineering degree from Savitribai Phule Pune University in 2014.
Subsequently, he pursued a Master’s in Business Administration from Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management in 2016.
After completing his education, Naidu began his career as an automobile design engineer at Tata Elxsi in Pune. At the age of 29, Naidu commenced his journey with Ratan Tata in May 2022.
He came into the public eye after a video surfaced on social media showing him celebrating Ratan Tata’s birthday, garnering the admiration of Tata’s fans across the country.
Despite Tata not having married or had children of his own, he has embraced Naidu as a cherished and closest member of his circle, treating him like a son.
Following Tata’s demise in October 2024, Naidu shared a heartfelt post on LinkedIn, mourning his loss. “The hole that this friendship has now left with me, I will spend the rest of my life trying to fill. Grief is the price to pay for love. Goodbye, my dear lighthouse,” his post read.
How Did Tata Meet Naidu?
Naidu, during his tenure with Tata Elxsi, came up with the issue of dog fatalities due to speeding vehicles. Motivated and inspired to address this problem, he formulated the idea of ‘collars for dogs’ that would enhance their visibility at night on roads, even in the absence of streetlights.
To get support for his remarkable venture, Naidu addressed a letter to Tata underlining his business proposal. Notably, Tata not only responded to Naidu but also invited him for a meeting to discuss the innovative venture.
This instance of meeting marked the beginning of their friendship. Interestingly, Tata was also an avid dog lover.
Eventually, it led to Naidu securing a position as Ratan Tata’s assistant and later as a general manager.
