Deepinder Goyal, co-founder and chief executive officer of Eternal, the parent company of Zomato, has announced that he will step down from his executive role, with Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa set to take over as CEO from February 1. Goyal will remain closely involved with the company as vice chairman of the board, marking a significant leadership transition at one of India’s most prominent consumer internet companies.
Explaining his decision, Goyal said he has been increasingly drawn toward pursuing high-risk, experimental ideas outside the company’s current strategic focus. “Of late, I have found myself drawn to a set of new ideas that involve significantly higher risk exploration and experimentation…If these ideas belonged inside Eternal’s strategic scope, I would have pursued them within the company. They do not,” he shared on X. The move, he emphasized, allows Eternal to stay sharply focused on execution while giving him space to explore new frontiers independently.
The leadership change follows a strong financial performance by Eternal. In the December quarter (Q3 FY26), the company reported a 73% year-on-year jump in net profit to ₹102 crore, alongside a threefold increase in revenue from operations. Goyal underlined that the company’s operating model will remain unchanged, with business leaders continuing to run their verticals independently. “As part of this transition, all of my unvested ESOPs will revert to the ESOP pool,” he noted, describing the step as a way to reinforce long-term leadership retention and meaningful wealth creation within the organization.
Albinder Dhindsa, who has led Blinkit through its turnaround and integration into the Eternal ecosystem, will now oversee the group’s broader strategy and growth. Goyal expressed confidence in Dhindsa’s leadership and in the continuity of momentum across Eternal’s businesses, including food delivery, quick commerce, and newer initiatives.
Since co-founding Zomato in 2008 with Pankaj Chaddah, Goyal has been central to shaping India’s online food and commerce landscape. In recent years, he has also begun exploring areas beyond consumer internet, including deep tech and longevity. His recent initiatives include a $20 million investment in LAT Aerospace, the launch of the Continue health initiative, and the unveiling of Temple, a device designed to monitor brain blood flow.
Despite stepping aside from day-to-day leadership, Goyal reiterated his long-term ambition for the company. “I want Eternal to become India’s most valuable company,” he said, adding that the transition ensures the company’s priorities remain uncompromised while he pursues ideas beyond Eternal’s scope.
