AZB & Partners co-founder Bahram Vakil will become chairman of Tata Group retailer Trent Limited effective November 12, 2026.

Vakil will succeed Noel NTata, who will retire as chairman and director at the close of business on November 11. Trent’s board approved the transition at its October 29 meeting, the company said in a stock exchange disclosure.

Vakil already serves on Trent’s board as a non-executive, non-independent director. His legal practice spans restructuring, bankruptcy, infrastructure and project finance.

He holds an LLM from Columbia University and is qualified to practise law in India and New York. He has advised distressed funds, insolvency professionals and domestic and international banks, including on large stressed accounts referred for insolvency resolution by the Reserve Bank of India.

Vakil has also served on government committees concerning financial reform, foreign direct investment and securities market reform. His other board positions include directorship of BASF India and the role of vice-chairman and independent director of Tata Investment Corporation.

Trent said Tata’s retirement followed the Tata Group Governance Guidelines on board composition, committees, and retirement of directors. Associated with the company since 1997, Tata will become chairman emeritus from November 12.

The board also approved appointing lawyer Kalpana Merchant as an additional director from October 30 and as an independent director for three years, subject to shareholder approval.

Merchant has more than 45 years of legal experience, including in commercial property, infrastructure, project finance, banking, dispute resolution, capital markets and mergers and acquisitions. She has been associated with Kanga & Co., AZB & Partners and Jerome Merchant + Partners.

Separately, Rajiv Dube was appointed an additional non-executive, non-independent director from October 30, subject to shareholder approval.

[Read Exchange Filing]