Kunal Shah is now CEO of WhatsApp. The Indian entrepreneur, known for building fintech startup CRED into a $4.5 billion company, replaces Will Cathcart after nearly seven years leading the messaging app.
Meta is backing the transition with a $900 million investment in CRED, becoming a minority investor in Shah's fintech startup while he moves to lead the world's largest messaging platform.
WhatsApp has over 500 million users in India alone—more than one-sixth of its three billion global user base—making it the app's largest market. The shift reflects Meta's focus on business messaging and digital payments, areas where WhatsApp lags local rivals like PhonePe and Google Pay.
Mark Zuckerberg praised Shah for bringing "the builder mentality and global perspective needed to run the world's largest messaging app."
Shah founded CRED, which has 17 million monthly active users. He previously built FreeCharge, one of India's earliest digital payment platforms, and has invested in over 250 companies while holding advisory positions across India's tech and financial services sectors.
Cathcart, who expanded WhatsApp with Communities, Channels, and AI integrations, will move to a product-building role at Meta. Shah will retain his stake in CRED while leaving its chief executive position.
The appointment matters for Meta's India strategy. WhatsApp competes in a crowded payments and commerce market. A CEO with experience scaling fintech in India could change that dynamic.
