Deepinder Goyal has officially stepped down from his roles as Director, Managing Director, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eternal, with the changes becoming effective on February 1, 2026. The Board of Directors has recommended his appointment as Vice Chairman and Director. Taking over the helm as the new CEO of Eternal will be Albinder Singh Dhindsa, previously the CEO of Blinkit. This significant management transition was publicly announced on Wednesday, January 21, coinciding with the company's financial results for the quarter that ended on December 31, 2025.

In a detailed post on X and a letter to shareholders, Deepinder Goyal articulated the rationale behind his resignation. He expressed a strong inclination towards exploring a new set of ideas that involve higher-risk experimentation and exploration, ventures he believes are better pursued outside the framework of a public company like Eternal. Goyal elaborated that while he possesses the personal capacity to manage both his responsibilities at Eternal and these new endeavors, the legal and operational expectations placed upon a public company CEO in India necessitate a singular and undivided focus. He affirmed his continued commitment to Eternal, stating, "I have spent eighteen years, almost half my life, building this company. I will continue doing that." His involvement will persist in key areas such as long-term strategy, culture, leadership development, ethics, and governance.

Albinder Singh Dhindsa's appointment comes with strong endorsement from Goyal, who lauded Dhindsa's leadership in transforming Blinkit. Goyal specifically highlighted Dhindsa's crucial role in developing Blinkit's team, culture, supply chain, and operating rhythm, noting that Blinkit's journey from acquisition to breakeven was achieved under his guidance. "He has the DNA of a battle-hardened founder, and his ability to execute far exceeds mine," Goyal remarked, emphasizing that Blinkit remains Eternal's largest growth opportunity and will continue to be Dhindsa's top priority as Group CEO. Eternal's decentralized structure, where each business operates with a dedicated CEO and full ownership, will remain unchanged, facilitating Dhindsa's execution of this strategy.

Interestingly, Deepinder Goyal revealed in an interview with podcaster Raj Shamani that he had twice asked Albinder Dhindsa to consider leaving Blinkit shortly after Zomato's 2022 acquisition of the quick-commerce platform. Goyal recalled telling Dhindsa, "You will not be able to cut it," explaining that Dhindsa frequently referenced how things were done at Grofers, Blinkit's former identity. Zomato acquired Grofers, founded by Dhindsa in 2013 with Saurabh Kumar, in 2022 for ₹4,447 crore in an all-stock deal. Following the acquisition, Grofers rebranded as Blinkit and successfully transitioned to a 10-minute delivery model, a move that defined a new e-commerce category in India.

Albinder Dhindsa brings a robust educational and professional background to his new role. He earned a Bachelor of Technology degree in Civil Engineering from IIT Delhi in 2004, followed by an MBA from Columbia Business School in New York between 2010 and 2012, specializing in strategy, leadership, and finance. His early career included roles as a Transportation Analyst at URS Corporation in 2005, a Senior Associate at Cambridge Systematics in 2007, and a brief stint as an Associate at UBS Investment Bank in New York in 2011. Returning to India in 2011, he served as the Head of International Operations at Zomato, where he played a pivotal role in the company's global expansion efforts.

As a pioneer of quick-commerce in India, Dhindsa successfully navigated Blinkit's strategic pivot to ultra-fast grocery delivery. He was instrumental in securing over $700 million in funding for the venture from prominent investors such as Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global, and SoftBank Vision Fund, which fueled Blinkit's technological advancements and aggressive national expansion. Beyond his professional achievements, Dhindsa is known for enjoying reading, playing basketball, listening to French music, and appreciating meals prepared by his mother.

Accompanying these leadership changes, Eternal also reported strong financial performance. The online delivery company, which operates both Zomato and Blinkit, saw its third-quarter profit jump by 73% year-on-year to ₹102 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, driven by surging demand for quick-delivery services.