In a significant leadership shakeup that marks the end of an era for one of India’s most prominent tech conglomerates, Deepinder Goyal has announced his resignation as the Chief Executive Officer of Eternal, the parent company housing food delivery major Zomato and quick-commerce giant Blinkit. The company has appointed Albinder Dhindsa, the founder and CEO of Blinkit, as his successor.
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The transition, effective February 1, 2026, will see Goyal moving into the role of Vice-Chairman while continuing to serve on Eternal’s board of directors. Dhindsa will assume the mantle of Group CEO while retaining his leadership position at Blinkit for the immediate future.
A Shift Toward “High-Risk Exploration”
Goyal’s decision to step back from the day-to-day operations of the publicly listed giant stems from a desire to return to his roots as an innovator in unchartered territories. In a letter to shareholders, Goyal articulated a shift in his professional focus, expressing a need to pursue ventures that might be ill-suited for the scrutiny and stability required of a public company.
“Of late, I have found myself drawn to a set of new ideas that involve significantly higher risk exploration and experimentation,” Goyal wrote. “These are the kinds of ideas that are better pursued outside a public company like Eternal.”
This move aligns with Goyal’s recent activities outside of the food tech ecosystem. Over the past year, he has increasingly invested his time and capital in deep-tech and longevity research. His ventures include ‘Continue,’ a health and wellness initiative focused on extending the human lifespan, and LAT Aerospace, a startup where he serves as a non-executive co-founder. Most recently, he teased a new brain-monitoring wearable device named ‘Temple,’ signaling his growing interest in futuristic consumer technology.
Dhindsa Takes Charge of Execution
The baton now passes to Albinder Dhindsa, whose execution capabilities have been widely lauded since Zomato’s acquisition of Blinkit. Under Dhindsa’s leadership, Blinkit transformed from a cash-burning entity into a critical growth engine for the group, achieving operational breakeven—a feat Goyal specifically highlighted as evidence of Dhindsa’s readiness for the top job.
“As group CEO, he will own day-to-day execution, operating priorities, and business decisions,” Goyal stated, endorsing Dhindsa as “more than capable of leading Eternal.”
The leadership change comes at a time of robust financial health for the company. On Wednesday, Eternal reported a staggering 201% year-on-year surge in revenue to Rs 16,315 crore, alongside a 73% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 102 crore. The strong balance sheet provides a stable foundation for Dhindsa as he steps into the broader role.
Implications for Stakeholders
For shareholders and employees, the transition appears structured to ensure continuity. Goyal’s continued presence on the board as Vice-Chairman suggests he will remain involved in long-term strategy, even as he detaches from operational duties. In a gesture likely to be well-received by the workforce, it was announced that all of Goyal’s unvested stock options will revert to the employee stock option (ESOP) pool, potentially increasing the equity available for talent retention and acquisition.
Goyal, who founded Zomato (originally Foodiebay) in 2008 alongside Pankaj Chaddah, has steered the company through nearly two decades of evolution—from a restaurant discovery guide to a hyper-local delivery powerhouse. His departure from the CEO role had been on his mind for some time; in a recent podcast, he revealed that he had considered stepping down years ago to focus on product rather than management.
As Eternal enters this new chapter under Dhindsa, the market will be watching closely to see how the group balances the steady growth of its core food delivery business with the aggressive expansion of its quick-commerce vertical.
