Swiggy says co‑founder and chief growth officer Phani Kishan Addepalli and Group CFO Rahul Bothra will join the board as Additional Directors from June 1, 2026.
When I first started ordering biryani from Swiggy during my college days in Bengaluru, I had no idea that the platform would grow into the massive quick‑commerce beast it is today. Over the years, I watched Swiggy expand from delivering a handful of meals in a local neighbourhood to handling millions of orders across the country. So, reading about Swiggy’s latest board‑level changes felt a bit like watching a family member moving out of the house and new cousins coming in – there’s a mix of nostalgia and excitement.
According to a regulatory filing, Swiggy announced the resignation of its co‑founder Lakshmi Nandan Reddy Obul. Lakshmi Nandan Reddy Obul stepped down as whole‑time director and head of innovation, effective April 10, 2026, to pursue other professional interests.
In the resignation letter, Lakshmi Nandan Reddy Obul wrote, “I am writing to formally tender my resignation from the position of Whole Time Director of Swiggy, effective close of #business on April 10, 2026. I have also tendered my resignation from my role in the Company as Head of Innovation.” He added, “For my next phase, I will be exploring new avenues and areas that I have been curious about and drawn toward, and I would like to commit my time to pursuing them.”
Reading those lines, I could almost hear the familiar rhythm of a startup founder saying goodbye to the day‑to‑day hustle while still cheering from the sidelines. Lakshmi Nandan Reddy Obul continued, “As I make this transition, I do so with profound pride and absolute confidence in our collective achievements. I remain certain that the leadership and team are well‑positioned for continued success. I will always be Swiggy’s loudest cheerleader.” It felt genuine – a founder who has been part of the journey from that early Bengaluru lane, now handing over the torch but promising to shout encouragement in the background.
In a separate move, the board approved the appointment of Renan De Castro Alves Pinto as Nominee Director representing Prosus Ventures. Renan De Castro Alves Pinto replaces Roger Rabalais, who is stepping back following his transition from Prosus Ventures.
Alongside Renan De Castro Alves Pinto, Swiggy also said that co‑founder and chief growth officer Phani Kishan Addepalli and Group CFO Rahul Bothra will join the board as Additional Directors from June 1, 2026.
Swiggy Group CEO Sriharsha Majety commented on the development, saying, “Phani Kishan Addepalli and Rahul Bothra have been with Swiggy since the early days and have been instrumental in steering the company through its most defining chapters”. He added, “Their understanding of our business and unwavering focus on both innovation and execution have been foundational to our journey. As we enter the next phase of our growth, their perspective will be invaluable in shaping our long‑term direction.”
On Lakshmi Nandan Reddy Obul’s departure, Sriharsha Majety said, “Lakshmi Nandan Reddy Obul has been a vital collaborator and a visionary force throughout Swiggy’s evolution, from our beginnings in a single Bengaluru neighbourhood to becoming a nationwide platform serving millions”. The words reminded me of the countless evenings I spent waiting for my order while watching the city lights flicker outside my apartment – a simple moment that reflected the huge logistical puzzle Lakshmi Nandan Reddy Obul helped solve.
Swiggy also announced that its board has approved changes to its Articles of Association. These include removing provisions related to nomination rights of Accel and SoftBank, while amending rules to allow Sriharsha Majety to nominate himself and one senior management member to the board, subject to certain conditions.
The company also replaced Lakshmi Nandan Reddy Obul’s nomination rights with those of Phani Kishan Addepalli, allowing Phani Kishan Addepalli to nominate himself to the board.
The proposed amendments will require regulatory and shareholder approvals before taking effect.
What struck me most while reading the filing was how the narrative of Swiggy’s growth mirrors the story of many Indian startups – a handful of founders who start with a simple idea, gradually bring in new talent, and eventually formalise governance structures as the business scales. In my own experience, I have seen friends move from being the sole driver of a gig to becoming part of a larger team that includes seasoned professionals.
For example, when I was in my final year of engineering, I used Swiggy’s quick commerce feature to get a midnight snack before an exam. The speed, the reliability, and the seamless app experience were all results of relentless innovation that Lakshmi Nandan Reddy Obul championed during his tenure as head of innovation. The fact that Lakshmi Nandan Reddy Obul now wants to explore other avenues feels natural – after all, a founder’s energy often needs fresh challenges after a decade of building a giant.
On the other hand, seeing Phani Kishan Addepalli and Rahul Bothra move onto the board feels like a homecoming. Both of them have been part of Swiggy’s DNA since the early days – Phani Kishan Addepalli driving growth, Rahul Bothra keeping the finances tight. Their deep understanding of the Indian market, from ordering a plate of dosa in a chawl to launching a hyper‑local grocery service in a tier‑II city, will likely influence strategic decisions that affect millions of daily users.
Renan De Castro Alves Pinto’s entry as a nominee director for Prosus Ventures adds an international flavour to the board. Prosus has been a long‑standing investor in Swiggy, and Renan De Castro Alves Pinto’s experience with other rapid‑growth tech companies could bring fresh perspectives, especially as Swiggy looks to diversify beyond food delivery into areas like grocery, medicine, and even financial services.
The removal of Accel and SoftBank’s nomination rights marks another shift. Both Accel and SoftBank were early backers who helped Swiggy raise capital at critical stages. By altering those rights, Swiggy is signalling a maturing governance model where the founders and senior leadership have a clearer say in who sits on the board.
In practice, these changes may affect how Swiggy makes decisions on new product launches, pricing strategies, and expansion plans in smaller towns. For a regular Swiggy user like me, the impact could be seen as smoother deliveries in my neighbourhood, more local restaurant partnerships, and perhaps even newer services like same‑day delivery of groceries from my local Kirana store.
Overall, the board reshuffle feels like a natural evolution. The founders who started the ride have passed the driver’s seat to the next generation of leaders while still staying in the passenger area, cheering loudly. As someone who has watched Swiggy grow from a college‑student’s convenience to a household name, I find the transparency in the filing reassuring – Swiggy is openly communicating its governance changes, and that builds trust.
Finally, the requirement for regulatory and shareholder approvals reminds us that even in the fast‑moving world of tech startups, there are checks and balances that ensure decisions are not taken lightly. It is a reminder that behind every quick‑order app, there is a complex web of legal, financial, and strategic considerations.
In my mind, the story of Swiggy’s board changes is not just about names and dates. It is about the people behind the scenes who make our food arrive on time, the leaders who decide which new city gets a Swiggy presence, and the investors who provide the fuel for growth. As Swiggy continues to expand its services and reach, I’ll be watching closely – not just as a customer, but as someone who has lived the Swiggy experience from its early days to now.
