Deepinder Goyal Moves to Vice Chairman at Zomato Parent Eternal; Albinder Dhindsa Elevated as CEO

In one of the most talked-about leadership transitions in India’s tech and consumer internet space, Deepinder Goyal, co-founder of Zomato, has stepped down as Group Chief Executive Officer of Eternal Ltd., the parent company that oversees Zomato, Blinkit and related digital services. His departure from daily leadership is effective February 1, 2026, with Goyal shifting to the role of Vice Chairman, subject to shareholder approval.  

Taking over operational leadership is Albinder Dhindsa, founder and CEO of Blinkit, underscoring how quick commerce has emerged as the primary engine of Eternal’s current and future growth strategy.  

A Leadership Move with Strategic Purpose 

Goyal’s decision has been explained in shareholder communications as a personal choice to pursue higher-risk ideas and experimental ventures that he believes are not aligned with the focus required to lead a large public company. He emphasised that his commitment to Eternal’s mission – serving millions of customers and creating sustainable impact – remains unchanged, even as his role evolves.  Analysts see this as more than a simple personnel change. Eternal, once known primarily for food delivery through Zomato, has been broadening its portfolio to include quick commerce, commerce tech, and other digital services. Blinkit, which was acquired in 2022, has increasingly been a standout performer, helping drive sharp revenue and profit acceleration in recent quarters.  

Blinkit’s Rise and Why Dhindsa Now Leads the Group 

Under Dhindsa’s leadership, Blinkit moved from being a struggling acquisition target to break-even and one of Eternal’s fastest-growing verticals. His operational strengths with logistics, execution and rapid expansion have been credited by both peers and analysts as core to making quick commerce central to Eternal’s future roadmap. The decision to promote a founder who has led one of the group’s most dynamic businesses reflects a shift in strategic emphasis toward execution and scale, particularly in sectors where speed, cost discipline and customer responsiveness matter most.  

Financial Momentum and Business Realities 

The leadership transition comes amid strong financial results. In the quarter ended December 31, 2025, Eternal reported a 73% year-on-year jump in consolidated net profit to ₹102 crore and a 201% surge in revenue to over ₹16,315 crore. Blinkit’s net order value, in particular, climbed significantly, making it a major contributor to this performance.  This growth strengthens the case for handing operational reins to Dhindsa, whose day-to-day experience with large, execution-heavy businesses aligns with where Eternal sees its next chapter unfolding.  

Founder Transition Beyond Daily Operations 

Importantly, Goyal isn’t exiting the company. He will remain on the board with a focus on long-term strategy, culture, leadership development, governance and value creation. This mirrors a global trend where founders step back from operational roles to focus on big-picture initiatives, allowing professional operators to run the business.  Goyal has also made a noteworthy governance gesture: he surrendered unvested ESOPs worth over ₹1,000 crore, returning them to the company’s pool. Analysts interpret this as a strong move for long-term talent retention and alignment without creating near-term shareholder dilution.