Meta has appointed CRED founder Kunal Shah as the next global head of WhatsApp, marking a major leadership transition for the messaging platform that serves more than 3 billion users worldwide.
The announcement was made by outgoing WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart, who confirmed the leadership change through a post on X. Cathcart, who has led WhatsApp for seven years, will transition into a new role within Meta focused on building products from the ground up.
Announcing the move, Cathcart praised Shah’s entrepreneurial journey and leadership, noting that he built CRED into one of India’s most influential technology companies and brings a deep understanding of consumer-focused digital products.
The leadership transition comes alongside Meta’s reported investment of approximately $900 million in CRED. According to reports, the investment will give Meta a nearly 20% stake in the fintech company at a valuation of $4.5 billion.
Following the development, Kunal Shah announced that Miten Sampat, CRED’s Head of Strategy and Finance, will take over as interim CEO of the company. Shah also clarified that while Meta will become a minority investor in CRED, it will not have access to the company’s member data.
Commenting on his new role, Shah said WhatsApp has significant untapped potential despite its massive global scale. He expressed enthusiasm about working with Meta leadership, including Mark Zuckerberg and Chris Cox, to shape the next phase of the platform’s growth.
The appointment marks one of the most prominent leadership moves involving an Indian technology entrepreneur and further strengthens the relationship between Meta and India’s startup ecosystem.