Deepinder Goyal has announced his decision to step down as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eternal, effective February 1, 2026. He has named Albinder Dhindsa as his successor for the position.
Subject to shareholders’ approval, Goya will remain on the company’s board of directors as Vice Chairman. Albinder Dhindsa (Albi) will be Eternal’s new Group CEO. As part of this transition, all of Goyal’s unvested ESOPs will revert to the ESOP pool.
“Of late, I have found myself drawn to a set of new ideas that involve higher-risk exploration and experimentation. These are the kinds of ideas that are better pursued outside a public company like Eternal,” Goyal explained in his letter to Eternal shareholders. “If these ideas belonged inside Eternal’s strategic scope, I would have pursued them within the company. They do not. Eternal deserves to remain focused and disciplined while exploring new areas of growth that are relevant to its current line of business.”
Goyal added that “The centre of gravity for operating decisions moves to Albi. As Group CEO, he will own day-to-day execution, operating priorities, and business decisions.”
Having established Zomato 18 years ago, Goyal helmed the company as it expanded across India and soon acquired Blinkit under the Eternal brand. Albinder Dhindsa, the Founder and CEO of Blinkit, is a long-time friend of Goyal.
“Albi, Akshant (Akshant Goyal, CFO at Zomato), and I will continue to work closely together, as we always have. Our partnership, shared context, and trust remain unchanged. All our business CEOs will continue operating with the autonomy they have always had,” Goyal said in his letter. “My involvement in long-term strategy, culture, leadership development, and ethics and governance continues. This is where I have increasingly focused lately anyway.”
Goyal’s resignation comes only a few weeks after he faced backlash over his remarks on the working conditions of delivery partners on quick-commerce platforms like Blinkit. His comments regarding the habitual exit of gig workers from the Eternal brand were criticised by many.
