In a major leadership shake-up in India’s tech and food-delivery sector, Deepinder Goyal, founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Eternal Ltd. — the parent company of food delivery giant Zomato and quick-commerce platform Blinkit — has announced his resignation from the CEO post, effective 1 February 2026.
Goyal, who co-founded Zomato in 2008 (then called Foodiebay) and led it through rapid expansion and eventual public listing, said in a letter to shareholders that he plans to explore new high-risk, high-reward ideas and ventures that fall outside Eternal’s current strategic scope.
“Of late, I have found myself drawn to a set of new ideas that involve significantly higher-risk exploration and experimentation,” Goyal wrote, adding that such pursuits are better suited outside the framework of a large, public-listed company.
Despite stepping down as CEO, Goyal will remain with Eternal as Vice Chairman on the board of directors, subject to shareholder approval. He emphasized that his long-term commitment to the company — described as his “life’s work” — remains unchanged, and that he will continue to support the company’s strategy, culture, leadership development, and governance.
New Leadership Takes Over
Eternal’s board has named Albinder Singh Dhindsa as the new Group CEO, effective February 1, 2026. Dhindsa, currently the CEO of Blinkit and a key leader within the group, will take over day-to-day operational responsibilities.
Dhindsa, a founder-led executive with experience scaling quick-commerce operations, has been credited with driving Blinkit’s growth since its acquisition by Eternal. Industry observers see his elevation as a strategic move to strengthen Eternal’s leadership focus on rapid delivery and logistics services.
Company Performance and Context
The leadership transition comes at a time of strong financial performance for Eternal. In the quarter ended December 31, 2025 (Q3 FY26), the company reported a 73% year-on-year increase in consolidated net profit to ₹102 crore and significant growth in revenue, driven by both food delivery and quick commerce.
Goyal’s departure from the operational helm underscores a broader trend in the startup ecosystem where founders step back from daily management roles to pursue innovative projects beyond the core business, while still maintaining strategic involvement at the board level.
Investors reacted positively to the news, with shares of Eternal rising on the announcement, reflecting confidence in the company’s future direction under new leadership.
