Mumbai: Deepinder Goyal has resigned as Director, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Eternal Ltd, the parent company of Zomato, marking a significant leadership transition at one of India’s most influential consumer internet groups. The change will take effect after business hours on February 1, 2026, subject to shareholder approval.
Goyal will move into the role of Vice Chairman and Director on the Board, allowing him to stay closely involved in Eternal’s long-term strategy, culture, leadership development, and governance, while stepping away from day-to-day execution.
In his letter to shareholders, Goyal said the decision was driven by his desire to pursue new ideas that involve higher levels of experimentation and risk—initiatives he believes are better explored outside the framework of a publicly listed company. He noted that the expectations placed on a public company CEO in India require singular focus, and the transition would allow Eternal to remain disciplined and execution-focused.
Abhinder Dhindsa to Lead Group Operations
Eternal has appointed Abhinder Dhindsa, currently Founder and CEO of Blinkit, as its new Group Chief Executive Officer. As Group CEO, Dhindsa will take full ownership of operating decisions, execution priorities and business performance across Eternal’s portfolio.
Announcing the appointment, Goyal said the “centre of gravity for operating decisions” would move to Dhindsa, crediting him with building Blinkit’s supply chain, operating rhythm and execution culture from the ground up. He described Dhindsa as a high-intensity operator with deep execution capability, adding that Eternal’s decentralised structure—where each business operates with full CEO ownership—will continue unchanged.
From Grofers to Blinkit: A Proven Operator
Dhindsa is best known as the co-founder of Blinkit, the quick-commerce platform that has reshaped India’s urban grocery and essentials delivery market. Born in Roorkee, Punjab, Dhindsa began his professional journey after completing a BTech in Civil Engineering from IIT Delhi, followed by an MBA from Columbia Business School, New York.
His early career included stints at URS Corporation as a transportation analyst and at Cambridge Systematics as a senior associate, focusing on logistics and transportation systems. During his MBA, he briefly worked at UBS Investment Bank, gaining exposure to financial markets and corporate strategy.
Dhindsa joined Zomato as Head of International Operations, where he played a key role in the company’s global expansion. In 2013, he co-founded Grofers with Saurabh Kumar, initially positioning it as a hyperlocal delivery service connecting neighbourhood stores with consumers via a mobile app.
Facing sustained operational losses due to a fragmented supply chain, Dhindsa led a strategic pivot to a full-stack model with company-owned warehouses and infrastructure. In 2021, he rebranded Grofers as Blinkit, shifting sharply to a quick-commerce model promising deliveries in 10–20 minutes through dark stores and micro-warehouses.
Blinkit’s Role in the Eternal Ecosystem
Zomato acquired Blinkit in 2022 in an all-stock deal valued at $568 million, integrating the platform into its broader ecosystem. Today, Blinkit operates across more than 50 Indian cities, serving millions of users and setting benchmarks for speed-led commerce in the country.
Under Dhindsa’s leadership, Blinkit’s journey from acquisition to operational stability and scale has been one of Eternal’s most closely watched success stories.
Goyal to Focus on Long-Term Vision
While stepping back from executive duties, Goyal clarified that he will remain actively involved in shaping Eternal’s long-term direction, values, ethics and governance. He said the leadership change ensures the company stays sharply focused on its core businesses while allowing space for independent exploration of ideas that fall outside Eternal’s current risk profile.
Outside the boardroom, Dhindsa is known for his low-profile personal style—often seen juggling multiple books, playing basketball, listening to French music, and enjoying home-cooked meals.
The transition marks a new phase for Eternal as it separates strategic stewardship from operational leadership, placing execution firmly in the hands of one of its most battle-tested operators.
