Deepinder Goyal, founder and long-time leader of Zomato and its parent company Eternal Ltd, declared a major leadership change in January 2026. Goyal, stepping down from his position as Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director of Eternal after nearly twenty years, effective February 1, 2026, he will be moving up to a strategic Vice-Chairman position. His successor as CEO will be Albinder Singh Dhindsa, founder and former CEO of Blinkit, which is Eternal’s quick-commerce division. This particular change in leadership is a reflection of Goyal’s personal ambitions, and the company’s core businesses getting into the broader phase of growth and focus at the same time.
This article provides a detailed analysis of the transition, its context, implications for Eternal and its investors, and what it reveals about leadership evolution in India’s tech and delivery ecosystem.
Who Is Deepinder Goyal? A Founder’s Journey
Deepinder Goyal co-founded Zomato in 2008 (initially named Foodiebay) with Pankaj Chaddah. The firm started out as a restaurant discovery service and later on transformed into one of the biggest food delivery platforms in India. Zomato changed its status into a public company over the years and moved into the related sectors like quick commerce through buying companies such as Blinkit.
Under Goyal’s leadership:
- Zomato grew into a household name in urban India.
- The company diversified into grocery and quick commerce.
- Eternal (as the parent company, formerly Zomato Ltd) expanded its portfolio and revenue base.
Goyal’s tenure saw both rapid industry shifts and increasing competitive intensity, particularly in delivery and quick-commerce sectors.
Why Goyal Is Stepping Down
In a letter to the investors, Goyal elucidated that the resignation from the position of CEO was a result of personal and strategic priorities more than performance concerns or the likes of that in the short run. He said that he has ever more been attracted to “high-risk exploration and experimentation” — the fields he thinks need the comfort and liberty which are usually not available in the governance structure of a public company. Goyal made it very clear that:
- Some of his ideas fall outside Eternal’s current strategic focus.
- The expectations and legal responsibilities of a public company CEO demand singular focus, which constrains exploration into higher-risk ventures.
These remarks indicate Goyal’s desire to engage with innovation beyond the current operational scope of Eternal, while ensuring the company continues with disciplined and focused leadership.
Eternal’s Performance Under Goyal’s Leadership
Eternal has continued to deliver strong financial results even as its leadership strategy evolves. In its Q3 FY26 earnings, the company reported:
- A 72.88% year-on-year increase in net profit to ₹102 crore.
- A 201.85% surge in revenue to ₹16,315 crore from operations.
On a sequential basis, the company also demonstrated growth momentum, with revenue climbing more than 20% quarter-over-quarter. These figures underscore Eternal’s resilience and growth trajectory despite sector volatility and competitive pressures.
Succession: Albinder Singh Dhindsa Takes the Helm
Eternal’s board has appointed Albinder Singh Dhindsa — founder and former CEO of Blinkit — as the new Group CEO, effective February 1, 2026. Dhindsa brings extensive leadership experience in quick commerce and logistics, having guided Blinkit through a successful turnaround and path to breakeven after its acquisition.
Dhindsa’s appointment signals several strategic priorities:
- Operational rigor: He will oversee day-to-day execution, operating priorities, and business decisions.
- Growth acceleration: With Blinkit as a key growth engine, Dhindsa’s expertise in scaling and delivery logistics positions Eternal to continue expanding in quick commerce and related markets.
- Execution focus: Eternal intends to maintain discipline and concentrate on its core competencies under Dhindsa’s operational leadership.
Goyal described Dhindsa as a “battle-hardened founder” with strong execution capabilities — a fitting profile for leading the company’s next phase of growth.
Goyal’s Continued Role and New Focus
Although Goyal is stepping down as CEO, his engagement with Eternal won’t end entirely. The board has recommended his appointment as Vice Chairman and Director, subject to shareholder approval. In this capacity, he will:
- Continue to influence long-term strategy.
- Support leadership development and corporate governance.
- Contribute to cultural and ethical frameworks within the company.
This transition ensures continuity and preserves strategic memory while freeing Goyal to pursue personal ventures that may involve higher uncertainty and innovation.
External Ventures and Personal Ambitions
Besides his contribution to Eternal, Goyal has taken part in the ventures of deep-tech and next-gen, for instance, he has backed LAT Aerospace, a company that is working on creating light regional planes and gas turbines for power generation. Besides, he is involved with health tech that includes Temple, a brain-monitoring gadget that does not penetrate the skin. These undertakings demonstrate Goyal’s appetite for high-risk, high-impact innovations that are outside the main business model of Eternal.
It seems that his resignation has been deliberately planned to allow him to concentrate more on such futuristic experiments, thus matching his personal entrepreneurial spirit with the wider technology and exploration domains.
Market and Investor Reaction
Initial market response to news of Goyal’s resignation has been cautiously positive. Eternal’s shares reportedly saw gains following the announcement, closing higher on key indices. Investor sentiment appears to interpret the leadership change as a stable transition rather than a crisis event, given the company’s robust financial performance.
Analysts noted that Dhindsa’s operational background — particularly his role in steering Blinkit to profitability — could instill confidence among stakeholders looking for disciplined execution on core business growth.
Implications for the Indian Tech and Delivery Ecosystem
Goyal’s stepping down from an executive role at Eternal reflects broader trends in India’s tech and delivery sectors:
- Founder transitions are becoming more structured as companies mature.
- Public market governance requirements influence leadership choices.
- Operational leadership is increasingly split from visionary exploration roles.
This separation of roles allows companies to balance disciplined execution with strategic innovation, potentially creating healthier corporate governance frameworks in fast-growth sectors.
FAQs: Deepinder Goyal and Eternal Leadership Change
Q1: Who is Deepinder Goyal, and what did he resign from?
Deepinder Goyal is the founder and longtime Group CEO of Eternal Ltd (formerly Zomato). He resigned as CEO and Managing Director, effective February 1, 2026, to pursue high-risk innovation and experimentation outside the constraints of a public company.
Q2: What role will Goyal continue to have at Eternal?
Subject to shareholder approval, Goyal will become Vice Chairman and Director on Eternal’s board, focusing on long-term strategy, governance, culture, and leadership development.
Q3: Who is taking over as Eternal’s CEO?
Albinder Singh Dhindsa, founder and CEO of Blinkit, has been appointed as Eternal’s new Group CEO. He will lead day-to-day operations and business execution from February 1, 2026.
Q4: How is Eternal performing financially?
In Q3 FY26, Eternal reported a 72.88% year-over-year net profit increase to ₹102 crore, with revenue from operations rising over 200% to ₹16,315 crore.
Q5: Why did Goyal choose this moment to step down?
Goyal cited a desire to pursue higher-risk, exploratory ideas that fall outside Eternal’s strategic scope and are better suited for projects outside the operational demands of a listed company CEO role.
Conclusion: A Strategic Transition Amid Growth and Innovation
Deepinder Goyal’s departure from the position of CEO at Eternal is a turning point in the leadership transformation of one of the most influential consumer internet companies in India. His new role as Vice Chairman aims to create a balance between strategic continuity and an operational focus, while at the same time allowing him to engage in advanced innovation that is not covered by the company’s risk framework.
Albinder Dhindsa taking over the CEO position signals Eternal’s commitment to disciplined execution and sustained growth in food delivery, quick commerce, and related digital services. This change in the leadership team is a reflective of a trend of tech and startup ecosystem in India maturing faster where founders are gradually separating the roles of execution leadership and visionary innovation.
