N Chandrasekaran to lead Tata Electronics amid $14 bn semiconductor push

N Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata Sons, is set to assume the additional role of chairman at Tata Electronics. This transition comes as Tata Electronics earmarks around $14 billion towards venturing into the semiconductor industry. Chandrasekaran will succeed Banmali Agrawala, who has served in this post for the past few years, pending regulatory approvals. Agrawala, a key figure within Tata Sons, will now take on an advisory role within the group. Chandrasekaran's appointment underscores the strategic significance that the semiconductor business holds for the conglomerate, industry insiders told The Economic Times (ET). His influence was pivotal in convincing Randhir Thakur, a former executive from Intel Foundry Services, to join Tata Electronics as CEO and MD in 2023. Additionally, Srinivas Satya, previously the country president of the semiconductor products group at Applied Materials, was appointed as Tata Electronics' chief supply chain officer and president of the components business earlier this year.These strategic hires, coupled with Chandrasekaran's focused leadership, position Tata Electronics at the forefront of India's electronics manufacturing landscape. The company has bolstered its team by recruiting 50-60 senior-level expatriates with expertise in semiconductor technology, strategic planning, and design.