Big shakeup! Cyrus Mistry removed as Tata Sons chairman, Ratan Tata steps in as Interim chairman.

In a surprise move, Tata Sons today removed Cyrus Mistry as its Chairman, nearly four years after he took over the reins of the over $100 billion salt-to-software conglomerate.

Ratan Tata makes a comeback, taking over as the company’s interim boss for 4 months.

A selection panel has been formed to find a successor in four months. The committee will include Ratan Tata, Ronen Sen, Venu Srinivasan, Amit Chandra. The decision has been taken after the board meeting today.

There were no reasons given for the change of leadership of the man who was brought in with much fanfare but it is believed that Tata Sons was unhappy with Mistry’s approach of shedding non-profit businesses, including the conglomerate’s steel business in Europe, and concentrating only on cash cows.

“Tata Sons today announced its board has replaced Mr Cyrus P Mistry as Chairman of Tata Sons. The decision was taken at a board meeting held here today,” a Tata Sons statement said.

Tata Sons is the main holding company of the group.