Ratan Tata, the iconic Indian business tycoon and branding genius, passed away at 86. His legacy offers lessons in marketing, innovation, and social responsibility.

Oct 9 (Reuters) - Ratan Tata, the former Tata Group chairman who put a staid and sprawling Indian conglomerate on the global stage with a string of high-profile acquisitions, has died, the Tata Group said in a statement late on Wednesday. He was 86.

Ratan Tata, former chairman of India’s oldest conglomerate Tata Sons, has died at age 86 in a hospital, his company says

Ratan Tata—a former chairman of Tata Group who led the Indian megacompany through multiple significant international acquisitions—died at age 86, the group announced Wednesday. Tata took over the conglomerate in 1991 and led it for 21 years.

"To my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I and many in Israel mourn the loss of Ratan Naval Tata, a proud son of India and a champion of the friendship between our two countries. Please convey my condolences to Ratan's family. In sympathy, Benjamin Netanyahu," he said.

After the demise of legendary industrialist Ratan Tata, Noel Tata, the half-brother of Ratan Tata, has been appointed as the chairman of the Tata Trusts. He is the 11th chairman of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the sixth at Sir Ratan Tata Trust.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed industrialist Ratan Tata as a champion for the friendship between India and Israel.