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Cyrus Mistry Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth4 July 1968

Age54 (at time of death)

BirthplaceBombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, India

ProfessionBusinessman

NationalityIrish

Marital statusMarried

SpouseRohiqa Mistry

FamilyFather: Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry; Mother: Patsy Perin Dubash; Sons: Zahan and Firoz

Cyrus Mistry Biography

Cyrus Pallonji Mistry (4 July 1968 – 4 September 2022) was an Irish businessman of Indian origin who served as the sixth chairman of Tata Sons. A scion of​

Early life and background

Cyrus Pallonji Mistry was born on 4 July 1968 in Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, India. He was raised in a Parsi family that followed Zoroastrianism. His father was Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry and his mother was Patsy Perin Dubash. The family had strong business roots: the Shapoorji Pallonji group had acquired a significant stake in Tata Sons decades earlier, and Cyrus grew up within that industrial legacy.

Mistry completed his schooling at Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai. He trained as an engineer, earning a Bachelor of Engineering in civil engineering from Imperial College, University of London in 1990, and later took an International Executive Master in Management from London Business School in 1996. He was also a fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Career

Cyrus Mistry joined the family business, Shapoorji Pallonji & Co. Ltd, as a director in 1991 and became managing director in 1994. Under his leadership the group expanded beyond traditional construction into design-and-build and EPC projects, taking on complex work across marine, oil and gas, rail, agriculture and biofuel sectors. He oversaw diversification into large road projects and other engineering-led ventures.

In September 2006 Mistry joined the board of Tata Sons as the representative of his family’s roughly 18.5 percent stake in the company. He held several non-executive directorships across Tata group companies before being appointed deputy chairman of Tata Sons in November 2011. After Ratan Tata retired in 2012, Mistry succeeded him as the sixth chairman of Tata Sons, becoming only the second person in the role who did not carry the Tata surname.

As chairman he oversaw many of the group’s principal businesses, including Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Teleservices, Tata Power, Tata Global Beverages and Tata Chemicals. He resigned from his executive role at Shapoorji Pallonji to avoid conflicts of interest when he took responsibilities at Tata Sons.

In October 2016 Mistry was removed from the chairmanship of Tata Sons. Following his dismissal he returned to the family business and pursued legal challenges related to his removal. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal in December 2019 found his removal unlawful and ordered reinstatement; that decision was later the subject of appeals and final rulings by the Supreme Court in 2021.

Public profile

Mistry was described by acquaintances as soft-spoken, candid and down-to-earth. He enjoyed reading and playing golf and had a family interest in horses. A noted car enthusiast, he owned a collection that included luxury SUVs. He held Overseas Citizenship of India and was regarded as a global citizen who maintained permanent residence in India.

In 2013 an international weekly named him among the most important industrialists in both India and Britain. Friends and colleagues highlighted his punctuality, humility and preference for keeping a low public profile.

Personal life

Cyrus Mistry married Rohiqa Mistry on 2 January 1992. The couple had two sons, Zahan and Firoz. He was the younger brother of Shapoor Mistry and had two sisters, Laila and Aloo. His father, Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry, died on 28 June 2022.

Mistry enjoyed a variety of cuisines and was known to favour Parsi and Maharashtrian dishes. He was reported to be non-vegetarian and appreciated travel, with Europe among his preferred holiday destinations.

Death

On 4 September 2022 Cyrus Mistry died in a car accident in Palghar, Maharashtra. He was 54. He was traveling from Udwada to Mumbai when the vehicle he occupied hit a road divider on a bridge. Reports indicated he suffered a severe haemorrhage and died at the scene.

Legacy and reactions

Mistry’s passing drew responses from business and political figures. Statements from his family business and public officials noted his contributions to industry and his reputation for integrity and humility. Those who knew him recalled his lifelong commitment to learning and his restrained approach to public life.

Latest updates

At the time of his death Cyrus Mistry had returned to active roles in his family enterprises after his tenure at Tata Sons and the subsequent legal proceedings. His professional record included leadership of major engineering projects and stewardship of a prominent industrial family’s businesses.
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Recent Work

Chairman, Tata Sons

Served as the sixth chairman of Tata Sons and oversaw key Tata group businesses until his removal in October 2016; later returned to the family business.

2012-2016
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Career Highlights

  1. Managing Director, Shapoorji Pallonji Group (from 1994)
  2. Board member of Tata Sons (from 2006)
  3. Deputy Chairman, Tata Sons (2011–2012)
  4. Chairman, Tata Sons (2012–2016)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Cyrus Mistry born?

4 July 1968

What is Cyrus Mistry known for?

Businessman

What is Cyrus Mistry’s marital status?

Married

Who is Cyrus Mistry married to?

Rohiqa Mistry