Deepinder Goyal, former Chairman and CEO of food-delivery powerhouse Zomato, is resigning as Group CEO of its parent company Eternal Limited after sweeping a broad leadership shake-up across India’s tech ecosystem. The announcement was made today and is a significant transition for the company that he cofounded 18 years ago.
On February 1, 2026, Goyal formally resigns from the top executive role. But he is not out of the company altogether; as long as he wins shareholder approval, he will serve for a five-year term as Vice Chairman and Director of the Board.
The New Front: Albinder Dhindsa
A new Group CEO is Albinder Dhindsa, founder and present CEO of Blinkit. Dhindsa has been widely credited with turning Blinkit around from a risky acquisition into a powerhouse of quick commerce as well as a key driver of Eternal’s profitability. Goyal wrote to shareholders saying he had immense faith in his successor.
“Albi’s DNA as a battle-hardened founder and his ability to execute far exceeds mine. He is more than capable of leading Eternal as Group CEO," Goyal wrote. Although Dhindsa will manage the group's day-to-day execution, he is expected to be heavily involved in Blinkit's operations.
Why the Exit? The Allure of “High-Risk” Ideas
Unlike most high-profile resignations that flow from corporate friction or underperformance, Goyal’s exit seems inspired by a personal desire for innovation. He said he has recently been attracted to "new ideas that involve significantly higher-risk exploration and experimentation." These actions are less applicable to a listed company, he said. “Eternal deserves to remain focused and disciplined … the expectations, legal and otherwise, of a public company CEO in India demand singular focus,” he said. Goyal has had a few personal projects of late:
- LAT Aerospace: An aviation startup focusing on short-duration flights.
- Continue: A health and wellness initiative centered on human longevity.
- Temple: A wearable deep-tech device for monitoring brain blood flow.
Financial Performance: Strategic
The leadership statement came at the same time as Eternal Ltd. boasted a fabulous earnings report. The firm has a 73% annual increase in consolidated net profit to ₹102 crore for the quarter to December 2025. The revenue also jumped more than 200%, driven largely by the quick commerce spike but also steady growth in food delivery.
As part of the structured transition, Goyal stated that all his unvested ESOPs (Employee Stock Options) will return to the company's ESOP pool, where future generations of leadership will create unique opportunities for wealth creation, thus not diluting shareholders.
What Stays the Same?
Although Dhindsa takes the position of "centre of gravity" for operating decisions, Goyal stressed that his long-term alignment with Eternal does not change. From his on-board position, he will help continue to influence the company’s culture, long-term strategy, and talent pipeline development.
