India, Nov. 14 -- Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata said on Saturday he was worried that listing Tata Sons would change the way the Tata group works. He said that with tens of thousands of shareholders, profit could one day take priority over philanthropy.

"My worry is that listing, which is what some people are proposing, will change this way, the Tata way. And one day, if we have 30,000, 40,000 shareholders, profit may take precedence over philanthropy. And I think that will fundamentally change the Tata way of working," Tata said at the 24th Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, in conversation with Suhel Seth. Track LIVE updates from Hindustan Times Leadership Summit here

Tata's remarks are one of his most direct public comments yet on li...