Info Edge CEO Hitesh Oberoi to step down; Bikhchandani returns as Group CEO

Info Edge (India), the company behind the jobs website Naukri.com and one of India's best-known early investors in start-ups, said on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 that its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Hitesh Oberoi, will step down from his full-time executive role at the close of business on December 2, 2026. Founder and Vice Chairman Sanjeev Bikhchandani will take over as Executive Vice Chairman, Managing Director and Group CEO from December 3, 2026, subject to shareholders' approval. Oberoi, who has been with the company for nearly 27 years, including more than 16 as its chief executive, will stay on the board as a non-executive director.

Info Edge is one of the Indian internet companies that grew from a start-up into a profitable listed business and then became a major backer of the next generation of founders. Its stakes in companies such as Zomato's parent Eternal and Policybazaar's parent PB Fintech made it one of the most closely watched investors in the Indian start-up ecosystem. A change at the top of such a company is therefore watched not only by its shareholders but also by founders who look to it for capital.

The transition is unusual in one respect: the founder is coming back to the chief executive's chair rather than handing it to a new outsider. Sanjeev Bikhchandani founded the company and has remained on its board as Vice Chairman. His return as Group CEO, with the added title of Executive Vice Chairman, suggests continuity in strategy rather than a sharp change of direction. Oberoi is not leaving the company; he will remain a director, so his experience stays available to the board.

The announcement came with a strong set of numbers. Consolidated net profit almost doubled from a year earlier, although a large part of that came from other income, which includes gains and returns on investments, rather than from the core businesses alone. Operating performance was led by recruitment, the Naukri business that remains the company's main earner, and by 99acres, the property listings platform, which grew billings by 21% and narrowed its operating loss to less than Rs 2 crore, according to the company's earnings call. The education business, Shiksha, remained under pressure.

For Indian start-ups and young entrepreneurs, Oberoi's stated wish to focus on entrepreneurship and investing is worth noting.

Short-term: Shareholders will vote on the new appointments. Until December 2, Oberoi continues to lead the company, so day-to-day operations of Naukri, 99acres, Jeevansathi and Shiksha are not expected to change.

Long-term: With the founder back at the helm, Info Edge's approach to its own businesses and to investing in start-ups is likely to stay broadly consistent. How it uses AI in its recruitment products, which management highlighted on its earnings call, will be one area to watch under the new leadership.

Who is affected: Info Edge shareholders and employees, job seekers and recruiters who use Naukri, start-ups backed by Info Edge or seeking its investment, and the wider Indian start-up community that follows the company.

Questions and Answers