Meta has appointed CRED founder Kunal Shah as the new global head of WhatsApp, marking one of the most significant leadership changes at the world’s largest messaging platform.
The announcement signals a strategic shift for Meta as it looks to expand WhatsApp’s global business and payments ecosystem.
The decision was announced on Monday by outgoing WhatsApp head Will Cathcart, who confirmed that he would be stepping down after nearly seven years at the helm. Cathcart said WhatsApp is currently “in the strongest position it’s ever been,” adding that the timing felt right to pass on leadership responsibilities.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg also publicly confirmed the appointment, praising Shah’s entrepreneurial journey and leadership style. Zuckerberg said Shah built CRED into “one of India’s most important technology companies” and credited him with bringing a “builder mentality and global perspective” that would help WhatsApp evolve further. He expressed confidence in Shah’s ability to lead the platform used by billions of people and millions of businesses worldwide.
In his announcement, Shah said WhatsApp still had significant untapped potential despite its global reach. He described the opportunity ahead as “massive” and said he was looking forward to working closely with Meta leadership, including Zuckerberg and WhatsApp teams, to shape the next phase of growth. Shah also confirmed that he would step away from his operational role at CRED but would continue to remain a shareholder in the company
Shah added that Meta had recently come in as a minority investor in CRED as part of a broader strategic alignment. He emphasised that while his role was changing, his commitment to CRED would remain intact.
Following Shah’s transition, CRED has appointed Miten Sampat, who has been heading strategy and finance at the company since 2020, as interim CEO with immediate effect.
Will Cathcart, while announcing his exit, said he was confident about WhatsApp’s future under Shah’s leadership and thanked the team for the journey since 2019. He noted that the platform had grown significantly during his tenure and was now ready for its next phase of expansion.
Meta described the leadership change as part of its long-term vision to strengthen WhatsApp’s position as a simple, reliable and private messaging service while expanding its utility for global commerce and communication.
CRED, founded by Shah in 2018, has grown into one of India’s leading fintech platforms. It currently manages a substantial share of credit card bill payments in India and has expanded its lending business, handling assets worth thousands of crores. The company reports a strong user base and steady monthly engagement across its services.
The appointment is being viewed as one of the most prominent global leadership roles taken up by an Indian entrepreneur in the technology sector.
