Malabar Gold and Diamonds vs Tata Group: Founders, CEOs and History
Malabar Gold and Diamonds was founded in 1993 by M.P. Ahammed and is led by M.P. Ahammed. Tata Group was founded in 1868 by Jamsetji Tata and is led by Natarajan Chandrasekaran.
Company facts
Malabar Gold and Diamonds
- Founded
- 1993
- Headquarters
- Kozhikode, Kerala, India
- Current CEO
- M.P. Ahammed
- Employees
- 21,000
Tata Group
- Founded
- 1868
- Headquarters
- Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
- Current CEO
- Natarajan Chandrasekaran
- Employees
- 1,000,000
Founders
Malabar Gold and Diamonds
M.P. Ahammed
M.P. Ahammed is the founder and chairman of Malabar Group. A former spice and copra trader from Kozhikode, he opened the first Malabar Gold showroom there in 1993 with relatives and co-investors.
Tata Group
Jamsetji Tata
Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata was an absolutely legendary Indian industrialist, fiercely visionary corporate architect, and the profoundly influential founding patriarch fundamentally responsible for architecting the massively dominant Tata Group conglomerate.
CEOs and their tenures
Malabar Gold and Diamonds
- Shamlal Ahamed
Managing Director, India Operations
Oversees expansion beyond southern India into northern, western and eastern states.
Source - O. Asher
Managing Director, International Operations
Runs the international network of more than 150 stores.
Source - M.P. Ahammed1993–present
Founder & Chairman, Malabar Group
Grew Malabar from one Kozhikode store into a chain of 425+ showrooms in 14 countries with about $7.31 billion (₹63,000 crore) turnover in FY2024-25.
Source
Tata Group
- Ratan Tata1991–2012
Chairman of Tata Sons
Led the group through global acquisitions including Tetley, Corus and Jaguar Land Rover.
Source - Cyrus Mistry2012–2016
Chairman of Tata Sons
Removed as chairman in October 2016, leading to a long legal dispute.
Source - Natarajan Chandrasekaran2017–present
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Tata Sons
Former TCS CEO who led the Air India acquisition, the push into semiconductors and batteries, and a 3.3-fold rise in group market value; his reappointment for a third term from 2027 is contested by Tata Trusts.
Source
Timeline: Malabar Gold and Diamonds and Tata Group side by side
1868Tata Group
Tata Group Founded by Jamsetji Tata
Jamsetji Tata started trading firm with 21,000 rupees in Mumbai.
1907Tata Group
Establishment of Tata Iron and Steel (TISCO)
Built India's first integrated steel works in Jamshedpur.
1932Tata Group
J.R.D. Tata Founds Tata Airlines (Air India)
Pioneered Indian commercial aviation with historic solo mail flight.
1968Tata Group
Creation of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
Pioneered global IT outsourcing and enterprise software consulting.
1993Malabar Gold and Diamonds
First Showroom Opens in Kozhikode, Kerala: M.P. Ahammed and founding partners establish the first Malabar Gold showroom in Kozhikode with 50 lakh in capital, introducing transparent gold purity practi…
2000Malabar Gold and Diamonds
Pioneering 100% BIS Hallmarked Jewellery: Becomes one of the first jewellers in India to sell exclusively Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) hallmarked 916 gold, years before hallmarking was legally man…
2008Malabar Gold and Diamonds
Inauguration of First International Store in Dubai: Malabar Gold opens its first international showroom in the historic Dubai Gold Souk, UAE, commencing its multi-billion-dollar Middle Eastern expansi…
2008Tata Group
Acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover ($2.3B)
Tata Motors acquired well-known British luxury automakers from Ford.
2013Malabar Gold and Diamonds
Entry into Singapore and Malaysia: Expands into Southeast Asia with flagship showrooms on Little India's Serangoon Road in Singapore and Jalan Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur.
2017Tata Group
N. Chandrasekaran Named Tata Sons Chairman
Appointed former TCS CEO to lead conglomerate transformation.
2018Malabar Gold and Diamonds
Debut in the United States: Opens its first North American showroom in Chicago (Devon Avenue), followed by expansions into Dallas, New Jersey, and Artesia (Los Angeles).
2020Malabar Gold and Diamonds
Launch of 'One India One Gold Rate' Campaign: Introduces uniform gold pricing across all Indian states, ending state-level price discrepancies and giving consumers complete price certainty.
2022Tata Group
Reacquisition of Air India ($2.4B)
Privatized national airline, bringing Air India back to Bombay House.
2023Malabar Gold and Diamonds
Launch of First UK Showroom in London: Inaugurates its flagship UK store on Green Street, London, marking Malabar's official retail entry into the European continent.
2024Malabar Gold and Diamonds
FY2023-24 Turnover Passes ₹50,000 Crore: reports ~$5.94 billion (₹51,218 crore) global retail turnover with 345 stores in 13 countries.
2025Malabar Gold and Diamonds
400th Showroom Opens in Noida: targets ~$9.05 billion (₹78,000 crore) turnover for FY2025-26.
2025Tata Group
Air India Flight AI171 Crash
An Air India Boeing 787 crashed after take-off from Ahmedabad on 12 June 2025, the airline's deadliest accident; it contributed to Air India's sharply wider FY26 loss.
2026Malabar Gold and Diamonds
Passes 425 showrooms and announces 20 new Indian stores for ~$183 million (₹1,580 crore).
2026Tata Group
Tata Sons Board Backs Third Term for Chandrasekaran
Board voted 4-1 on 17 September 2026 to reappoint the chairman from February 2027 and start listing steps; Tata Trusts called it illegal.
Acquisitions
Malabar Gold and Diamonds
No verified acquisitions are listed.
Tata Group
- Air India2022$2.4B
- Jaguar Land Rover (JLR)2008$2.3B
- Corus Group2007Undisclosed
- Tetley2000Undisclosed
Questions about Malabar Gold and Diamonds vs Tata Group
Who is the CEO of Malabar Gold and Diamonds and Tata Group?
Malabar Gold and Diamonds is led by M.P. Ahammed and Tata Group is led by Natarajan Chandrasekaran. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Malabar Gold and Diamonds founded vs Tata Group?
Tata Group was founded in 1868 — 125 years before Malabar Gold and Diamonds, which was founded in 1993. Tata Group's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Malabar Gold and Diamonds.
How many employees does Malabar Gold and Diamonds have compared to Tata Group?
Malabar Gold and Diamonds employs approximately 21,000 people, while Tata Group employs approximately 1,000,000. Tata Group has the larger workforce at 1,000,000 employees, compared to Malabar Gold and Diamonds's 21,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Malabar Gold and Diamonds and Tata Group headquartered?
Both Malabar Gold and Diamonds and Tata Group are headquartered in India, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Malabar Gold and Diamonds and Tata Group?
Malabar Gold and Diamonds was founded by M.P. Ahammed. Tata Group was founded by Jamsetji Tata.
Which company has a longer operating history — Malabar Gold and Diamonds or Tata Group?
Tata Group has been operating for approximately 158 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Malabar Gold and Diamonds has been in operation for around 33 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Malabar Gold and Diamonds vs Tata Group overview