Meta has announced a major leadership change for WhatsApp by appointing Indian entrepreneur Kunal Shah, founder of fintech startup CRED, as the new head of the messaging platform. He will replace Will Cathcart, who is stepping down after nearly seven years to focus on a new product role within Meta.

Alongside the appointment, Meta is leading a $900 million investment in CRED, becoming a minority stakeholder in the company. The funding is expected to support CRED’s expansion across payments, lending, insurance, and wealth management services.

India remains WhatsApp’s largest market, with more than 500 million users, making the country a strategic focus for Meta’s future plans. The company is increasingly looking to grow WhatsApp beyond messaging by expanding digital payments, commerce, and business communication services.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Kunal Shah brings valuable experience in building consumer-focused technology products and will help drive WhatsApp’s next phase of innovation.

Shah founded CRED in 2018 and previously created FreeCharge, one of India’s early digital payment platforms. He is also known as an active startup investor, backing hundreds of technology companies across India.

As part of the transition, Miten Sampat, CRED’s strategy and finance leader, will serve as interim CEO while the company prepares for its next stage of growth.

The move highlights Meta’s growing commitment to India and signals a stronger focus on integrating messaging, payments, and digital commerce within WhatsApp’s ecosystem.

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