Deepinder Goyal Steps Down as Eternal CEO; Blinkit Head Albinder Dhindsa to Take Charge

Deepinder Goyal, the founder of Zomato and one of the most recognisable faces of India’s startup boom, is stepping down as Group CEO of Eternal, the parent company of Zomato and Blinkit. The leadership change will come into effect from February 1, 2026, subject to shareholder approval. Goyal, who has led the company for 18 years, will continue on the board as Vice Chairman, while Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa takes over as Group CEO.

An 18-Year Journey

Goyal founded Zomato in 2008, building it from a restaurant discovery platform into one of India’s earliest and most influential consumer tech unicorns. Under his leadership, Zomato went public in 2021 in a landmark IPO and later rebranded the group as Eternal following the acquisition of Blinkit in 2022.

Over the years, Zomato reshaped food delivery from an urban convenience into a mainstream habit across Indian cities and towns, while also creating a massive gig workforce. The company, now valued at around $15 billion, has seen its shares more than double since listing.

Why Albinder Dhindsa, and Why Now

Albinder Dhindsa takes charge at a time when quick commerce has emerged as Eternal’s biggest growth engine. Blinkit, which Dhindsa founded in 2014 after leaving Zomato’s international operations, has gone from acquisition to breakeven under his leadership.

In his letter to shareholders, Goyal made it clear that Blinkit will remain Dhindsa’s top priority. Calling quick commerce the future, brand strategist Harish Bijoor described Blinkit as the group’s “rainmaker and key differentiator”.

Eternal is currently locked in fierce competition with players like Swiggy and Amazon to dominate India’s instant delivery market, estimated at $11.5 billion.

Goyal’s Letter: Focus, Bandwidth and New Ideas

Announcing his decision, Goyal wrote that while Eternal remains his life’s work, the expectations of a public company CEO demand singular focus.

“Of late, I have found myself drawn to a set of new ideas that involve significantly higher-risk exploration and experimentation,” he said, adding that these ideas are better pursued outside a listed company.

Goyal will now spend more time on his other ventures, including Continue Research, where he has invested $25 million into studying human biology and longevity, and LAT Aerospace, a startup working on low-cost regional aircraft for India and emerging markets. He has also been involved in backing deep-tech and space-tech firms such as Pixxel.

Strong Numbers Amid Leadership Change

The transition comes at a moment of financial strength for Eternal. The company recently reported a 73 percent jump in quarterly profit, while Blinkit posted adjusted core earnings of 40 million rupees, a sharp turnaround from a loss of 1.56 billion rupees in the previous quarter.

Despite past criticism around discounting practices, delivery partner safety, and experiments like a vegetarian-only fleet, Eternal continues to be one of India’s most closely watched consumer tech companies.

The ‘Temple’ Buzz

In recent weeks, Goyal has also been in the news for reasons beyond boardrooms. His experimental wearable device, known as Temple, sparked online memes and trolling after he was seen wearing it publicly. Goyal later clarified that the device is part of ongoing personal research and not a commercial product yet, asking critics to be curious rather than dismissive.

Read Full Story Here: Deepinder Goyal’s ‘Temple’ Sparks Debates and Memes After Raj Shamani Podcast

As Albinder Dhindsa prepares to take over the reins, Eternal enters a new phase with quick commerce at its core and its founder stepping back to explore ideas beyond food delivery. For Deepinder Goyal, it is not an exit, but a shift in focus.