Info Edge (India), the owner of Naukri.com, on Wednesday announced a top-level leadership change: managing director and chief executive Hitesh Oberoi will step down at the close of business on December 2, 2026, after nearly 27 years with the company, and founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani will return to an executive role as executive vice chairman, managing director and group CEO from December 3, the company said in a stock exchange filing reported by PTI.

Source: PTI via The Hindu BusinessLine

Both changes are subject to shareholder approval. Bikhchandani's appointment is scheduled to run until April 26, 2031, in line with his existing shareholder-approved term. Oberoi will become a non-executive, non-independent director from December 3, so he stays on the board after leaving the full-time operating role.

27 yearsOberoi's time at Info Edge, including 16+ years as MD and CEO
December 2, 2026Oberoi steps down at close of business
December 3, 2026Bikhchandani takes over as group CEO (subject to shareholder approval)
Rs 2,500 crore to Rs 80,000 croreGrowth in Info Edge's market capitalisation during Oberoi's tenure, per the company filing cited by YourStory

'The right time to transition out'

"After nearly 27 years at Info Edge, I feel this is the right time for me to begin transitioning out of my full time operating role. It has not been an easy decision. Info Edge has been a defining part of my life, and I feel enormous gratitude and pride when I look back at what we have built together," Oberoi said. He plans to devote more time to education, entrepreneurship, institution building, investing and philanthropy, and to his family, YourStory reported.

Source: YourStory

Oberoi took over as CEO and MD in 2010, when Bikhchandani moved to the executive vice chairman role. During his tenure Naukri.com strengthened its position as India's leading online recruitment platform, while Info Edge built and scaled 99acres, Jeevansathi, Shiksha and Jobhai and invested surplus cash in India's startup ecosystem, the company said.

No external CEO decided yet

On the company's earnings call, Bikhchandani said there had been no discussion with the board about appointing an external CEO, and that he would listen a lot and take Oberoi's guidance, TradingView's report of the call said. He also acknowledged he could not continue indefinitely given his age, and that the leadership structure would be worked out as the situation stabilises. Separately, whole-time director and Naukri chief business officer Pawan Goyal has also resigned after seven years to pursue other interests, according to an exchange filing cited in the same report.

Source: TradingView News

The transition was announced alongside Info Edge's September-quarter results. The founder's return puts executive leadership back with the man who founded the company, with Oberoi remaining on the board. (Sources: PTI via The Hindu BusinessLine, YourStory, Inc42, TradingView.)