The food and quick commerce sector is buzzing with news of a major executive transition. Deepinder Goyal, architect of Zomato’s rise and Eternal Group’s CEO, is stepping down effective February 1, 2026. Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa steps up to lead the parent company.
Eternal Group’s filing laid out the change, prompted by Goyal’s pursuit of bold, uncharted ideas. In his shareholder note, he explained: “My interests have shifted toward high-stakes experiments and explorations best nurtured outside a listed entity’s structured environment. Eternal needs laser focus on its proven strategies.”
Goyal candidly admitted he could manage dual paths but recognized the intense demands on public company leaders in India to commit wholly to their role. This decision unfolds against a backdrop of government pushback on aggressive delivery models.
Fresh off a crackdown on 10-minute deliveries, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya convened leaders from Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy, and Zomato in Delhi. He mandated the removal of punishing time targets, prioritizing delivery personnel’s lives over speed promises plastered across platforms.
The directive forced an industry-wide pivot, with companies updating apps and ads to eliminate fixed deadlines. This regulatory reality check arrives as Eternal navigates growth pressures in a market where consumer demands clash with worker protections.
As Dhindsa assumes command, Eternal Group eyes sustained momentum in food delivery and quick commerce. Goyal’s departure underscores the tensions between visionary risk-taking and the discipline required of public market players, setting the stage for strategic evolution.