Deepinder Goyal has announced that he will step aside as Group CEO of Eternal Ltd (formerly Zomato Ltd), setting the stage for a leadership transition at the food delivery and quick-commerce company. Subject to shareholder approval, Goyal will continue on the board as Vice Chairman, while Albinder Dhindsa will take over as Group CEO.
In a letter addressed to shareholders, Goyal described the move as a reflection of changing personal priorities rather than any concerns about the company’s direction. He said Dhindsa popularly known as “Albi” will assume full responsibility for day-to-day leadership and execution across the group.
Goyal explained that he has increasingly felt drawn toward exploring high-risk ideas that sit outside the scope of a publicly listed company. “These are the kinds of ideas that are better pursued outside a public company like Eternal,” he wrote, adding that he would have pursued them internally had they aligned with Eternal’s strategic mandate.
He also acknowledged the demands of leading a listed entity in India, noting that the regulatory and fiduciary responsibilities of a Group CEO require complete focus. The transition, he said, allows Eternal to remain disciplined and execution-led, while giving him the freedom to explore ideas that do not fit the company’s risk profile.
With the new structure, operational leadership will shift decisively to Dhindsa, who will oversee execution, operating priorities and business-level decisions. While Goyal will continue to work closely with Dhindsa and Akshant, ownership of daily operations will rest firmly with the incoming CEO.
Backing Dhindsa’s elevation, Goyal highlighted Blinkit’s transformation under his leadership, from acquisition to breakeven. He credited Dhindsa with building the team, culture, supply chain and operating rhythm, describing him as a “battle-hardened founder” with exceptional execution capability.
Blinkit, Goyal noted, remains Eternal’s largest growth opportunity and will continue to be a key focus area. The company’s decentralised structure where each business operates with its own CEO and clear ownership will remain unchanged.
Looking ahead, Goyal said the leadership change does not dilute Eternal’s ambition. Reiterating his long-term vision, he said he wants Eternal to become India’s most valuable company and serve a billion customers.
Calling the move a shift in role rather than commitment, Goyal concluded by saying that Eternal remains his life’s work.