Akriti Chopra Zomato: Cofounder and Chief People Officer, Steps Down

Akriti Chopra Zomato Exit: Akriti Chopra, a long-time executive and cofounder of Zomato, has resigned from her position as Chief People Officer, marking a significant leadership change for the Gurugram-based food and grocery delivery platform. Zomato announced her resignation in a stock exchange filing on September 27, 2024.

Chopra’s journey with Zomato began in 2011 when she joined as a Senior Manager of Finance and Operations. Over the years, she played pivotal roles, eventually becoming Zomato’s Chief Finance Officer before transitioning into her latest role as Chief People Officer. Chopra was also instrumental in scaling Zomato’s finance, legal, and compliance functions, making her a key figure in the company’s growth, especially during its 2021 IPO.

Akriti Chopra Zomato: Why Did Akriti Chopra Resign?

In her resignation email to Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal, Chopra stated her decision to step down was effective immediately as she planned to pursue new interests. Chopra’s departure follows a sabbatical in 2023, though she had been less involved in Zomato’s operations following the company’s acquisition of Blinkit in 2022.

Questions were raised about potential conflicts of interest at the time, as Chopra is married to Albinder Dhindsa, founder of Blinkit. However, CEO Deepinder Goyal clarified that Chopra was not involved in any discussions regarding the acquisition.

Akriti Chopra’s Contributions to Zomato

A graduate of Lady Shri Ram College and a qualified Chartered Accountant, Chopra joined Zomato after a stint with PwC. She was instrumental in establishing Zomato’s business finance, legal, and compliance teams, and played a crucial role in securing funding rounds and expanding the company into international markets. Chopra’s leadership helped solidify Zomato’s position as one of India’s top tech companies.

Akriti Chopra Zomato: A Trend of Cofounder Exits

Chopra’s resignation makes her the fifth Zomato cofounder to exit the company, following the departures of Gunjan Patidar, Mohit Gupta, Gaurav Gupta, and Pankaj Chaddah. In recent years, Zomato has also seen several senior executives leave, including Rahul Ganjoo and Pradyot Ghate.

Despite these departures, Zomato continues to grow and evolve, recently welcoming back Ganjoo and Ghate to lead new initiatives, including the launch of District, Zomato’s standalone app for its “going out” business.

Chopra’s departure signals the end of an era, but Zomato’s focus on innovation and leadership renewal suggests the company is well-prepared for the future.