In a significant leadership transition, Zomato co-founder Deepinder Goyal has announced his decision to step down as Chief Executive Officer of Eternal Ltd., formerly known as Zomato. The move, effective February 1, 2026, will see Blinkit founder Albinder Dhindsa assume the role of Group CEO.
The announcement came as a surprise to many in the industry, marking a new chapter for one of India’s largest food delivery and quick-commerce companies. While Dhindsa takes charge of day-to-day operations and strategic execution, Goyal will continue with the company as Vice Chairman.
Who Is Albinder Dhindsa?
Albinder Dhindsa is a seasoned entrepreneur and business leader, best known for founding and scaling Blinkit, which has emerged as Eternal’s most valuable business unit.
He is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, where he studied civil engineering from 2000 to 2004. Dhindsa later earned his MBA from Columbia Business School between 2010 and 2012.
Before entering the startup ecosystem, he worked as a transportation analyst at URS Corporation and later as a senior associate at Cambridge Systematics. During his MBA, he also gained experience in finance as an associate at UBS Investment Bank.
Dhindsa joined Zomato in 2011 as Head of International Expansion, where he led the company’s global growth strategy for over two years. He later founded Grofers, which was rebranded as Blinkit, positioning it as a leader in India’s quick-commerce space.
According to Blinkit’s official profile, Dhindsa sets the company’s long-term vision, oversees product development, and drives overall strategy. Outside of work, he is known to enjoy reading, playing basketball, listening to French music, and spending time with family.
Blinkit’s Rise Within Eternal
Zomato acquired Blinkit in 2022, at a time when the quick-commerce firm was facing financial challenges. Since then, Blinkit has seen rapid growth and has become Eternal’s strongest asset, playing a central role in the company’s future direction.
Why Did Deepinder Goyal Step Down?
Explaining his decision, Goyal said he plans to pursue higher-risk ideas outside Eternal, allowing the company to remain focused on disciplined and sustainable growth.
“Recently, I have been drawn to ideas that involve higher-risk exploration and experimentation,” Goyal said in his statement. “These are better pursued outside a public company like Eternal.”
He added that if these ideas aligned with Eternal’s core strategy, he would have pursued them internally. “Eternal deserves to stay focused while continuing to grow within its current business scope,” he said.
Goyal also clarified the leadership shift, stating that operational control will now rest with Dhindsa. “The centre of gravity for operating decisions moves to Albi. As Group CEO, he will own execution, operating priorities, and business decisions.”
The transition signals Eternal’s intent to strengthen its core businesses while allowing its founder to explore new entrepreneurial paths independently.
