Deepinder Goyal Steps Down as CEO of Eternal Ltd.: What Happened, Why It Matters and What’s Next

On January 21, 2026, Deepinder Goyal, co-founder and longtime CEO of Eternal Ltd., the parent company of Zomato and Blinkit, announced his resignation as CEO and Managing Director, effective February 1, 2026. He will transition to a Vice Chairman role on the company’s board. Albinder Singh Dhindsa, founder and CEO of Blinkit, will take over as Group CEO of Eternal. 

This leadership change comes after 18 years of Goyal’s stewardship and reflects both his personal shift toward new ventures and Eternal’s evolving strategic focus. In this blog, we will explain who Deepinder Goyal and Albinder Dhindsa are. What is Eternal Ltd.? Why is this leadership change happening? What does it mean for the company, its businesses, and the broader market?

Who is Deepinder Goyal?

Deepinder Goyal is one of India’s most recognised startup founders. He co-founded Foodiebay in 2008, which later became Zomato, now the largest food delivery and technology company. Over the years, the company expanded beyond restaurant listings to include food and grocery delivery, and more. Founder & former CEO of Eternal Ltd., led the company from a small Delhi startup to a publicly listed business. Served as CEO for 18 years before stepping down.

Under his leadership, Zomato grew rapidly, entering new cities, going public in 2021, and expanding into multiple business lines. Eternal Ltd. today operates several major services in India’s internet economy.

Even after stepping down as CEO, Goyal will remain involved with the company as Vice Chairman and a Director on the board, subject to shareholder approval. This means he will still contribute to the company’s long-term vision and governance.

What is Eternal Ltd.?

Eternal Ltd. is the parent company of some of India’s most popular tech platforms:

• Zomato food delivery and restaurant discovery
  
  

• Blinkit quick-commerce grocery delivery
  
  

• Hyperpure B2B fresh produce supply
  
  

• District  events and ticketing platform

Originally named Zomato Limited, the company was renamed to Eternal Ltd. in 2025 to reflect its broader business interests beyond food delivery.

How Eternal Grew

• 2010: Company founded as DC Foodiebay Online Services
  
  

• 2012–15: Expanded internationally and made acquisitions abroad
  
  

• 2020: Acquired Uber Eats’ India business
  
  

• 2021: Listed publicly on Indian stock exchanges
  
  

• 2022: Acquired quick-commerce platform Blinkit
  
  

• 2024–25: Expanded into ticketing and events, supply chain services
  
  

• 2025: Rebranded as Eternal Ltd

Today, Eternal is a diversified technology company serving millions of users across food delivery, grocery delivery (quick commerce), B2B food supply, and local services, an ecosystem that connects consumers, restaurants, delivery partners, and businesses.

Who is Albinder Dhindsa?

Albinder Singh Dhindsa is a prominent Indian entrepreneur and the founder/CEO of Blinkit, Eternal’s quick-commerce arm. He built Blinkit from its early days (formerly Grofers) into one of India’s most recognisable grocery delivery brands, known for 10-minute deliveries.

Here’s a snapshot of who he is:

• Graduated from IIT Delhi with an engineering degree
  
  

• Later pursued advanced business education abroad
  
  

• Founded Blinkit (formerly Grofers) and expanded it into quick commerce
  
  

• Joined the Eternal group after Blinkit was acquired in 2022

Under his leadership, Blinkit achieved a major turnaround, moving from operational losses to profitability. This performance has been crucial in boosting investor confidence in Eternal’s overall strategy.

With Dhindsa now becoming Group CEO of Eternal, he will oversee strategies across all business lines, not just Blinkit.

What Exactly is the Leadership Change?

What Goyal Announced

Deepinder Goyal formally informed shareholders and the stock exchanges that he will:

• Step down as CEO and Managing Director effective February 1, 2026
  
  

• Transition to the role of Vice Chairman of the Board
  
  

• Continue to contribute to long-term strategy and culture, but not day-to-day operations.
  
  

Why He Is Stepping Down

Goyal explained that:

• He’s increasingly drawn to new, high-risk, experimental ideas that don’t fit within the structure and responsibilities of a publicly listed company.
  
  

• The everyday demands of legal, operational, and compliance of running a public company require singular focus.
  
  

• Stepping down allows Eternal to remain focused and disciplined while pursuing ventures outside its core business.

According to reports, Goyal has been exploring other ventures, including in health tech, longevity research, and aerospace, which require different kinds of leadership attention than running a large public company.

How Investors and the Market Reacted

The markets responded positively to the leadership transition news:

• Eternal’s shares jumped on the stock exchange after the announcement.
  
  

• Analysts pointed to Blinkit's recent turnaround, which is now a key driver of profitability.
  
  

• Eternal reported strong quarterly numbers, including a 73% year-on-year profit increase, underlining confidence in the company’s future.

This reaction suggests that investors see Dhindsa’s leadership and Blinkit’s performance as strategic strengths, helping Eternal compete in sectors such as food delivery and quick commerce, where rivals such as Swiggy and Amazon also operate.

What This Means for Eternal and its Businesses

Focus on Quick Commerce

Blinkit’s success likely played a large role in this decision. Quick commerce, delivering groceries and essentials in minutes, has become one of the fastest-growing segments in India’s digital consumption landscape.

With Dhindsa at the helm:

• Eternal may place even more emphasis on scaling quick commerce efficiently.
  
  

• Operational effectiveness and profitability could become larger priorities.
  
  

• The company may invest more in logistics, supply chain, and faster delivery models across platforms.

Smooth Transition, Not Disruption

Dhindsa has made it clear that business operations will continue unchanged, and he will keep leading Blinkit even as he takes on the broader CEO role. This means:

• No immediate shake-ups in corporate strategy
  
  

• Daily business functions continue as usual
  
  

• The focus remains on execution and growth across all verticals
  
  

Goyal’s Role Going Forward

Although stepping down as CEO, Goyal’s continued presence as Vice Chairman means:

• He will still influence long-term vision and governance.
  
  

• He can champion company culture and leadership development.
  
  

• He remains financially invested and tied to Eternal’s success.

Why This Matters Beyond Eternal

For Startup Leadership Trends

This transition highlights a broader trend where founders step aside from public company operational roles to let operational specialists lead execution, while still contributing at the board level.

For India’s Tech and Delivery Markets

• With competition heating up in quick commerce, delivery apps, and on-demand services, having a leader deeply experienced in operational logistics could give Eternal an edge.

• Market confidence in quick commerce has grown as companies like Blinkit show profitability potential.

For Employees and Stakeholders

Such leadership changes are major for employees and investors, as they can signal new priorities, cultural shifts, and strategic refinement, especially in a company as diversified as Eternal.

Conclusion

Deepinder Goyal’s decision to step down as CEO of Eternal marks the end of a long, transformative era. Over nearly two decades, he grew a small startup into a powerful public company with multiple business lines. His move reflects both personal evolution and corporate maturity.

Albinder Dhindsa’s appointment as Group CEO signals a transition toward operational excellence and growth execution, especially centred around quick commerce and profitability. With strong market performance and a renewed strategic focus, Eternal appears well-positioned for the next phase of its journey. In simple terms, Goyal remains involved but no longer runs day-to-day operations. Dhindsa brings operational focus to the overall business. The leadership change aligns with Eternal’s growth strategy and investor expectations.