The board of India's largest tertiary care veterinary facility, the Small Animal Hospital — a cherished project of the late Ratan Tata — has been reconstituted after the exit of his close confidant Mehli Mistry, as internal conflict at Tata Trusts spreads to affiliated institutions, according to Business Today.
Sanjay Ubale, former managing director of Tata Realty & Infrastructure, and Dr Sheila Mukundan, a doctor and wife of Tata Chemicals MD R Mukundan, have joined the board. People familiar with the appointments told Business Today that the hospital sought individuals with an affinity for animals.
Board Departures and Resignations
Mistry resigned from the hospital's board after his reappointment to both Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Sir Dorabji Tata Trust was blocked. In his resignation letter, Business Today reported, he stated:
"I would prefer not to request funding from a trust with which I am no longer associated."
His departure triggered additional exits. Dr Anirudh Kohli, CEO of Breach Candy Hospital, also stepped down. Shantanu Naidu, Ratan Tata's former personal assistant who had been involved with the hospital since its inception, resigned shortly after — with sources saying he was nudged towards the exit. Naidu remains general manager at Tata Motors.
Remaining Trustees
The remaining trustees on the board are Leah Tata, daughter of Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata (who was brought onto the board by Mistry); Mehernosh Kapadia, a former director of Indian Hotels Company; R R Shastri, a former legal executive of Tata Sons; and Siddharth Sharma, CEO of Trusts.
Financial Strain and Capacity Concerns
The Small Animal Hospital cost Rs 165 crore to build and is currently losing about Rs 1.5 crore per month, according to Business Today. It is operating at a fraction of its capacity and depends on sustained financial backing from its founding promoters — Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) and Sir Dorabji Tata Trust.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Construction cost | Rs 165 crore |
| Monthly loss | ~Rs 1.5 crore |
| Operational capacity | Fraction of total |
It remains unclear whether the Maharashtra charity commissioner's order freezing SRTT's ability to take material decisions has complicated the trust's capacity to provide ongoing support. The board of Tata Trusts, excluding SRTT, is meeting on Monday to discuss budgets, grant disbursals and other matters, the report added.
Background and Wider Context
The Small Animal Hospital was born out of Ratan Tata's inability to find advanced veterinary care for his own injured dog, Business Today noted. The facility represents a key philanthropic initiative of the Tata trusts. The board churn comes amid broader governance turbulence at Tata Trusts, following the passing of Ratan Tata and disputes over control and succession.
For investors and corporate governance watchers, the hospital's financial vulnerability — losing Rs 1.5 crore monthly at low capacity — underscores the risk that donor-funding disruptions could impair operations. The appointments of Ubale (real estate and infrastructure background) and Dr Mukundan (medical professional) may signal an effort to strengthen both operational oversight and clinical credibility.
The next milestone will be the outcome of the Monday board meeting of Tata Trusts (excluding SRTT), which will address budgets and grant disbursals — decisions that could directly affect the hospital's immediate funding lifeline.
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