Turning 65, Ratan Tata on Saturday gave up all his executive posts in the Tata empire and will become non-executive chairman from Sunday which officials said will not impact the working of the Tata Group in any major way. He, however, will continue to lead the conglomerate in a non-executive capacity.

Ratan Tata will remain the non-executive chairman for five more years till the age of 70 and during the period, a successor would be identified, sources in the Tata group said.

Ratan Tata would be involved in the business and the group executive office, which includes executive directors Ishaat Hussain, R Gopalkrishnan and Kishore Chaukar, would assist in managing affairs of group companies, the spokesperson said.

As per the group's retirement policy, all Tata executives have to step down from executive positions at the age of 65 to a non-executive position.

Tata is the non-executive chairman of other group majors such as Telco, Tisco, Indian Hotels and Tata Chemicals.

At the Tata Power annual general meeting on August 6, Tata disclosed that retirement age of non-executive directors was intended to be reduced to 70 from 75.

The board of directors has already given a nod to Tata to continue as non-executive head of the group with effect from Sunday, Tata Sons spokesperson said in Mumbai.

"A changeover from being executive chairman to non-executive position will not impact working of the group," she said.

Ratan Tata took over the reins of the group as an executive chairman in 1991 and drew a blue print for group's forays in infotech, telecom, alloy metals, biotech in the 80s, even before assuming charge as the chief.

He was also the driving force behind Tata Tea's acquisition of the Britain-based Tetley, the largest ever by an Indian company overseas in 2000.

Tata became chairman of Tata Group of Companies in 1991.

The acquisition of Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd, Tetley Group and CMC Ltd by the Tata Group were the landmark achievements by the company under his chairmanship.

Tata, who was born on Dec 28, 1937 in Mumbai, went to US at the age of 15 to pursue studies at Cornell. He became the chairman of Air-India for a three-year tenure in mid-1980s.

Tata, an architect by profession, worked in an architect's office for a couple of years and also completed masters in business management at Harvard University.

Tata, closely associated with group's philanthropic work, drew up a strategic five-year plan for Sir Ratan Tata Trust in 1995 and also donated 22 school buildings to quake affected people in Gujarat in August 2001.

Tata was the force behind Telco's foray into passenger car business with introduction of the first Indian car 'Indica' and also recently launched Telco's mid-size car 'Indigo.'

Tata, who has always had a zeal for high technology infrastructure, spearheaded the group's entry into telecom, first in manufacturing and later into services. He launched the group's telecom brand 'Indicom' in December 2002.

In early April 1992, the Tata Sons' board had decided to set the retirement age for whole-time directors at 65.

Prominent among the major initiatives taken by Tata were drawing up a strategic five-year plan for Sir Ratan Tata Trust (1991), institution of JRD QV award for excellence in the Group (1995), launch of Sir Ratan Tata Small Grants Programme (1998), launch of Indica (1998) and merger of his (Tata) cellular company with Birla-AT&T (2000).

Recently, the Tatas unveiled their offering in the C-segment car -- Indigo -- at a very aggressive price followed by the launch of the group's telecom brand -- Tata Indiacom.

Ratan Tata went to Cornel for his studies in the United States at the age of 15.

Later, he completed his MBA from the Harvard University and worked at an architect's office for a couple of years before joining the Tata Group.

Additional inputs: UNI