Deepinder Goyal has resigned as managing director and chief executive officer of Eternal, marking a major leadership change at the company. The resignation will take effect from February 1.
Eternal is a consumer internet company with interests across food delivery, quick commerce and allied digital services. Its associate companies include Zomato and Blinkit, which together form the core of its consumer-facing businesses in India.
The board has recommended Goyal’s appointment as vice-chairman and director for a five-year term, subject to shareholder approval. From February 1, Blinkit chief executive officer Albinder Singh Dhindsa will take charge as chief executive officer and key managerial personnel of Eternal.
Explaining his decision, Goyal said he wanted to focus on a new set of ideas that involve higher risk and experimentation, which he believes are better pursued outside a listed company. In a post on X, he said these ideas do not fall within Eternal’s current strategic direction.
“Of late, I have found myself drawn to a set of new ideas that involve significantly higher-risk exploration and experimentation. These are better pursued outside a public company like Eternal,” Goyal said. He added that if these ideas were relevant to Eternal’s business, he would have explored them within the company.
Goyal also pointed to the expectations placed on the head of a public company in India. While he said he personally had the bandwidth to manage both Eternal and new projects, the legal and regulatory responsibilities of a chief executive officer require full and undivided attention. “Eternal deserves to remain focused and disciplined while exploring growth areas aligned with its core business,” he said.
As vice-chairman, Goyal will continue to be closely involved in the company’s long-term strategy. He said his focus will be on culture, leadership development, governance and ethics, areas where he has already been spending more time in recent years.
With the leadership change, operational control will shift to Albinder Singh Dhindsa. Goyal said the “centre of gravity” for day-to-day decisions will now move to Dhindsa, who will be responsible for execution, operating priorities and business decisions.
Dhindsa, who currently heads Blinkit, is known for his strong execution skills and experience in building large consumer businesses. His appointment signals continuity in leadership while strengthening operational focus across Eternal’s businesses.