In an unexpected turn of events, Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal addressed the controversy surrounding the Rs 20 lakh fee for a Chief of Staff (COS) position. Goyal clarified that the condition, which required candidates to pay Rs 20 lakh for the opportunity, was merely a filter to identify individuals who could appreciate the unique role and fast-track career potential without constraints.
Deepinder Goyal Withdraws Rs 20 Lakh Fee Clause
Update 3. https://t.co/8a6XhgegQM pic.twitter.com/1GOFIOta9O
— Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) November 21, 2024
In a post titled “Update 3” on X (formerly Twitter), Goyal emphasized that the fee was never intended to be a hard requirement. “This wasn’t just another hiring post. As some people pointed out, the ‘you have to pay ₹20 lakhs’ was merely a filter to find people who had the power to appreciate the opportunity of a fast-track career,” he explained. However, he also revealed that candidates willing to pay the fee or possessing the money would likely be rejected to ensure the focus remains on genuine capability.
Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal’s Clarifications
The posting, including an unpaid first year in the package with the Rs 20 lakh condition, has started sharp debates on X and LinkedIn. Some critics termed it elitist as they said qualified candidates who could not afford such a fee were excluded. Some people saw the move as an exclusionary practice catering to the rich.
Update 2: we have over 10,000 applications, a lot of them well thought through, mixed between –
1. Those who have all the money
2. Those who have some of the money
3. Those who say they don’t have the money
4. Those who really don’t have the moneyWe will be closing the… https://t.co/8a6XhgeOGk
— Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) November 21, 2024
He followed up with an attached screenshot of a conversation with the potential candidate, telling him that Zomato would “pay the right person anyway,” and thus, the fee wouldn’t be enforced. While much appreciated, this response means that the initial post was likely ambiguous.
The position, touted as offering “10x more learning than a two-year degree from a top management school,” nonetheless attracted over 18,000 applications. Goyal also shared the diverse applicant pool, which included individuals across different financial and professional spectra, further sparking interest in the role.
A Pattern Of Retracted Decisions
This isn’t the first instance of Zomato or its CEO walking back on decisions following public scrutiny. Earlier in 2024, the company faced backlash for its “green fleet” service, designed for vegetarian food deliveries. Residential welfare associations (RWAs) and other social groups opposed the service, which sought to cater to client preferences, and Zomato was forced to drop the project.
Broader Implications For Brand Image
The fee controversy adds to the exposition of how companies are navigating public reactions in real-time, especially for a high-profile brand such as Zomato. For Goyal, his prompt clarifications have been seen by some as him being adept at the issues he faces, while for others, such drastic measures of exclusionary hiring practices get directly challenged.
Despite the backlash, Zomato maintains its leadership position in the Indian startup ecosystem. Goyal may save his company from attacks in public discourse by being able to explain and respond properly.
With this episode, Zomato cements the lesson for businesses making sensitive announcements in an overwhelmingly connected and opinionated digital world: the requirements for clarity and inclusivity in messaging cannot be ignored.
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