A man with a Vision
Sumant Moolgaokar is often referred to as the architect of Tata Motors. Leading the Company for nearly four decades, he was responsible for building Tata Motors into an organization capable of competing with the world’s best - in terms of people, processes and technology.

A man with a vision, he had the ability to see what Tata Motors would be. He believed that in order to build an industry, you not only had to build a factory, but also the men and the technology. His vision was not limited to the Company but encompassed even the nation and he was often seen as not just building a factory, but building a nation.

His long-term strategies were always in tune with the needs of the country. He was able to foresee that for India to become an industrial nation, it would need specially trained minds, while also being in a position to independently make its own machinery, tools and equipment. With this mind, from the very beginning Tata Motors trained its employees in the required skills and technologies. Sumant Moolgaokar was also instrumental in setting up the Engineering Research Centre, the Machine Tool and the Press Tool Division.

That he had the ability of translating his vision into reality was well known. He drove the Company and its people, steering it through its most difficult and challenging times.

Setting the standards
“Expect the best, ask for it, pursue it relentlessly and you will get it.”, he often said. He believed that the key to bringing out the best from people was to expect the best from them. This pursuit of excellence in conceptualisation and execution form the very foundation of the ‘Tata Motors culture’. He also possessed the rare gift of bringing out the best in the people who worked with him and was known for personally looking into the development of people with promise - encouraging and motivating them.

A nature lover
His love and commitment for nature and the environment was well known. No expense for installing equipment at the Tata Motors plants was too much, when it was to prevent any kind of pollution arising from the operations. When the Pune plant was being set-up, under Moolgaokar, the first thing that Tata Motors did was plant trees. The barren rocky land was blasted to plant trees. Trees needed water and for that a dam was built that is today a beautiful lake. A lake that has become a safe resting place for several migratory birds.

He continues to live our hearts, guiding the Company in its pursuit of excellence.