Mehli Mistry Steps Down from Tata’s Small Animal Hospital Trust: What About Ratan Tata’s Dream

New Delhi: Prominent businessman Mehli Mistry, a close associate of the late Ratan Tata, has resigned from the board of the Small Animal Hospital Trust (SAHT). The Mumbai-based trust runs India’s largest specialty hospital for pets, a project that was a long-cherished dream of Ratan Tata. The hospital was established after Tata struggled to find proper healthcare for his injured dog, prompting him to create the facility.

In his resignation, Mistry stated, “Since I am no longer associated with the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) and Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT), I cannot provide funding to the Small Animal Hospital Trust. I also do not wish to request funds from a trust I am not connected with, and therefore I resign with immediate effect.” In October, Mistry’s tenure as trustee in SDTT and SRTT ended and was not renewed.

Impact on the Board
Following Mistry’s resignation, another trustee, Dr. Aniruddh Kohli, CEO of Breach Candy Hospital, also stepped down. The SAHT board now has five remaining trustees: Leea Tata (daughter of Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata), Mehranosh Kapadia (former director of Indian Hotels/Taj), R.R. Shastri (legal advisor to Tata Sons), Shantanu Naidu (General Manager, Tata Motors), and Siddharth Sharma (CEO, Tata Trusts).

Mistry recommended that Siddharth Sharma, or another trustee, be appointed as the hospital’s chairman, noting, “As CEO of Tata Trusts, Siddharth is best positioned to secure funding from one of the larger Tata trusts.”

With key trustees stepping down, questions arise over the future of the Small Animal Hospital and the continuation of Ratan Tata’s vision for quality veterinary care in India.