Deepinder Goyal to step down as CEO of Eternal; Albinder Dhindsa appointed successor

The company’s board has appointed Albinder Singh Dhindsa, currently CEO of Blinkit, as the new Group CEO. Dhindsa will assume responsibility for day-to-day operations, operating priorities, and strategic execution as Eternal enters its next phase of growth.

In a letter to shareholders, Goyal said his decision was driven by a desire to pursue ideas that fall outside the scope of a listed company. “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,” he said. 

Goyal noted that operational decision-making will now rest with Dhindsa, citing his leadership in steering Blinkit from acquisition to breakeven. “As Group CEO, he will own day-to-day execution, operating priorities, and business decisions,” Goyal wrote, adding that Dhindsa is “more than capable of leading Eternal” in the role. 

While stepping away from executive responsibilities, Goyal said he remains confident in the company’s long-term trajectory and governance structure under the new leadership. 

The transition comes amid strong financial performance for Eternal, with recent quarterly results reflecting robust year-on-year growth across its businesses. Industry observers see the move as part of a broader trend among founder-led companies to formalise succession planning while strengthening corporate oversight. 

Dhindsa’s appointment is expected to provide operational continuity while maintaining focus on innovation, digital execution, and disciplined growth. 

In a recent podcast with Raj Shamani, Goyal also disclosed that shortly after Zomato acquired Blinkit, he had asked Dhindsa to step down on two occasions during the post-acquisition phase. He said the discussions took place at a time when Blinkit was undergoing significant structural and cultural changes, requiring a leadership reset to align with the parent company’s operating model. 

According to Goyal, those conversations were direct and reflective of the pressures involved in integrating a fast-growing business into a larger corporate ecosystem.