In a surprising yet carefully orchestrated executive transition, Albinder Singh Dhindsa founder and CEO of quick-commerce giant Blinkit has been appointed as the new Group Chief Executive Officer of Eternal Ltd. (formerly Zomato), effective February 1, 2026. This marks the end of Deepinder Goyal’s long run as CEO of the company he co-founded, and the beginning of a new chapter focused on operational scale, quick commerce leadership, and execution-driven growth. Alongside this leadership change, Goyal will step into the role of Vice Chairman, maintaining a strategic presence while pursuing new ventures beyond the company’s immediate scope.
Author : Aashiya Jain | EQmint | Corporate Announcements
Why the Sudden Change? Personal Ambitions and Strategic Focus
The CEO switch was announced by Eternal on January 21, 2026, via regulatory filings and a letter from Deepinder Goyal to shareholders. Goyal who co-founded Zomato in 2008, helped take it public in 2021, and oversaw its transformation into the diversified group now known as Eternal said he is stepping back from day-to-day executive duties to explore “new ideas that involve significantly higher-risk exploration and experimentation.”
According to his own words, these ventures are better pursued outside the framework of a public company like Eternal, which demands disciplined, focused leadership for operational execution.
Goyal emphasised that his decision is not due to a loss of confidence in the company’s future, but rather a personal inclination towards riskier, emerging initiatives some already underway, including ventures in longevity tech, wearables, and aerospace startups. He also noted that his “financial future remains meaningfully tied to Eternal”, reinforcing his continued belief in the company’s long-term prospects even as he alters his role.
Who Is Albinder Dhindsa? A Proven Operator in Quick Commerce
Albinder Singh Dhindsa is no stranger to the challenges of scaling high-growth businesses. An IIT Delhi civil engineering graduate, Dhindsa also holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, where he honed his strategic and financial acumen before venturing into the Indian startup ecosystem.
Dhindsa’s entrepreneurial journey began in earnest after an early stint managing international expansion for Zomato. He later founded Grofers, the hyperlocal grocery delivery startup that was eventually rebranded Blinkit now one of India’s most prominent quick-commerce platforms.
Under his leadership, Blinkit not only navigated intense competition in the instant delivery market but also reached a significant milestone by breaking even at the operating level a rare achievement in a segment known for high cash burn.
His track record of building teams, streamlining complex logistics, and driving sustainable growth makes him a logical choice to steer Eternal’s operational agenda, particularly as Blinkit remains one of the business’s largest growth engines.
What This Means for Eternal’s Future
The leadership shift signals a clear strategic emphasis: Eternal wants to double down on execution, scale, and operational excellence. Dhindsa’s reputation as a “battle-hardened founder” with deep experience in quick commerce positions him well to manage the daily demands of a diversified group that includes food delivery, quick commerce, and evolving service verticals under one roof.
Eternal’s decentralised structure where each major business unit has its own CEO with operational autonomy will remain unchanged, ensuring that Dhindsa’s appointment enhances coordination without undermining unit-level leadership. Goyal himself pointed out that this structure, combined with Dhindsa’s leadership, offers the group a strong foundation for growth.
From a market perspective, analysts have largely viewed the transition as a continuity move rather than a disruption. Shares of Eternal saw a positive response after the announcement, buoyed by robust quarterly results such as a 73 % year-on-year net profit jump and the perception that strategic focus and leadership clarity have been strengthened.
Balancing Innovation with Discipline
One of the most discussed aspects of Goyal’s exit is his reframing of executive priorities. In his letter, Goyal cited the “legal and other expectations of a public company CEO in India” as requiring a singular focus something he felt limited his ability to explore high-risk, high-innovation projects simultaneously. This kind of candid reasoning underscores a broader leadership trend: founders often thrive in creative, early-stage environments, but may choose to relinquish operational control as firms scale and regulatory demands intensify.
By moving into a Vice Chairman role, Goyal retains influence over long-term strategy and governance, while entrusting day-to-day operational decisions to Dhindsa a move likely designed to ensure both stability and momentum as Eternal navigates its next phase.
Looking Ahead: A New Chapter for Eternal
The transition at Eternal reflects both confidence in internal leadership and adaptability to evolving market dynamics. With Albinder Dhindsa at the operational core, the company appears poised to capitalise on its strengths in quick commerce and food delivery while offering its founder the freedom to pursue bold, independent ventures.
For shareholders and employees alike, this moment combines familiar continuity with fresh operational energy, suggesting that Eternal’s journey from pioneering food delivery in India to becoming a diversified tech-enabled services group is entering a purposeful new chapter.
For more such information: EQmint
Resource Link : IndiaTimes
