Restaurant India News: Deepinder Goyal Steps Down as Eternal CEO, Blinkit’s Albinder Dhindsa Takes Charge

Deepinder Goyal has resigned from his role as Group CEO of Eternal Limited, the parent company of Zomato, marking a leadership shift at one of India’s most influential food and hospitality-linked businesses. Blinkit chief executive Albinder Dhindsa will take over as Group CEO, while Goyal will continue on the board as Vice Chairman.

The transition was communicated through a letter to shareholders, where Goyal said the move reflects his increasing interest in working on new ideas that involve greater experimentation and uncertainty. He explained that such initiatives are better pursued outside the framework of a listed company, which demands consistent execution and a narrower strategic focus.

“While I believe I personally have the bandwidth to continue what I am doing at Eternal, and also explore new ideas outside of it, the expectations, legal and otherwise, of a public company CEO in India demand singular focus,” Goyal said.

He added that the change allows Eternal to stay aligned with its core priorities, while giving him the flexibility to work on projects that fall outside the company’s existing risk appetite. “The transition allows Eternal to remain sharply focused, while giving me the space to explore ideas that do not fit Eternal's risk profile”.

The move signals a push towards operational clarity as Zomato and Blinkit deepen their integration. Over the past year, both platforms have worked more closely across logistics and customer-facing services, impacting restaurants, cloud kitchens, and last-mile delivery partners.

Dhindsa’s elevation ensures continuity within the group, particularly as Blinkit continues to scale in the quick commerce space, which has become increasingly relevant for foodservice brands and restaurant supply chains.

Goyal, who co-founded Zomato in 2008, has been instrumental in transforming the platform from a restaurant discovery service into a broader food delivery and quick commerce business operating under Eternal Limited. Since entering the public markets in 2021, the company has expanded through acquisitions and category diversification, placing it under closer investor and regulatory scrutiny.

The leadership change comes at a time when public companies in India are expected to demonstrate sharper governance, execution discipline, and strategic consistency. Under Dhindsa’s leadership, Eternal is expected to maintain focus on stable growth across its core verticals.

Goyal did not share details of his upcoming ventures but indicated that they will involve early-stage experimentation and operate outside Eternal’s current business lines.