• Zomato COO Rinshul Chandra has stepped down effective April 7, marking the latest in a series of leadership exits amid company-wide restructuring and automation-driven layoffs.
  • The resignation comes as Zomato, now rebranded as Eternal, shifts toward AI-powered operations, raising concerns over job cuts and internal stability.

Rinshul Chandra, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Zomato’s food delivery business, has stepped down from his role effective April 7, 2025, marking another high-profile leadership departure for the company.

In a regulatory filing on April 5, Zomato—recently rebranded as Eternal—disclosed that Chandra resigned "to pursue new opportunities and passions." His decision reflects evolving personal and professional goals, as stated in his resignation letter addressed to Zomato founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal.

Chandra’s resignation follows a series of significant transitions within Zomato’s leadership team. In September 2024, Akriti Chopra, co-founder and Chief People Officer, left after a decade-long tenure. Similarly, Hemal Jain, head of business finance, departed in December 2024 after six years with the company to explore other opportunities. 

The resignation coincides with broader organizational changes at Zomato. The company recently laid off nearly 600 customer support employees as part of its transition to AI-driven automation. The layoffs were linked to the deployment of Nugget, an AI-powered customer support platform developed internally over three years.

Nugget now handles over 15 million monthly interactions across Zomato’s platforms, including Blinkit and Hyperpure, resolving up to 80% of customer inquiries autonomously. While the automation has streamlined operations, it has also raised concerns about workforce stability and employee morale.

Zomato’s restructuring efforts reflect challenges in its core food delivery business and financial setbacks in its rapid commerce division, Blinkit. The layoffs targeted employees from the Zomato Associate Accelerator Program (ZAAP), a talent development initiative launched in 2024. Many affected employees were reportedly encouraged to resign without formal layoff notices.

Chandra’s departure also highlights a growing trend among former Zomato executives venturing into entrepreneurship. Known as the "Zomato mafia," these ex-leaders have founded startups across diverse sectors such as healthtech, aviation, and lifestyle. Prominent figures include Gaurav Gupta and Mohit Gupta, who have launched their own ventures after leaving Zomato. 

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah