Meta has recently announced a major leadership change and a significant investment that puts Indian entrepreneur Kunal Shah in a global spotlight. Shah, who is the current CEO of CRED, will be taking on the role of the new global head of WhatsApp. Not only this, but Meta has also announced a major $900 million investment in the Indian fintech startup. Shah will replace Will Cathcart, who has led WhatsApp since 2019. Cathcart will now be responsible for the developing consumer products powered by AI. Follow along with the article to learn everything about this. leadership change in Meta-owned social media platform WhatsApp.
Meta has recently confirmed that Kunal Shah will become the next global head of WhatsApp. He’ll be in charge of the platform’s future growth and product strategy. Shah will be replacing Will Cathcart, who is the current CEO of WhatsApp and oversaw a period of strong expansion during his tenure.
Cathcart will remain at Meta and move into a new role focused on developing consumer products powered by artificial intelligence. Meta executives said Shah’s experience in building digital businesses and understanding consumer behaviour made him a strong choice for the position. The appointment is also one of the most high-profile leadership moves involving an Indian startup founder at a global technology company.
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Alongside the leadership announcement, Meta revealed an investment of around $900 million in CRED. The deal strengthens Meta’s presence in India’s fast-growing digital economy while giving CRED fresh backing from one of the world’s largest technology companies. Earlier reports had suggested that discussions between the two companies included both a strategic investment and a possible operating role for Shah within Meta.
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Kunal Shah, who is also known for building FreeCharge and later launching CRED in 2018, will be the new CEO of WhatsApp. He recently posted the news on LinkedIn, where he clarified that he’ll be stepping down from the current role of CEO at Cred while continuing as a shareholder and handling operations of WhatsApp globally. He is also expected to relocate to California and work from Meta’s headquarters.
He came into his own when he started CRED, a platform used by millions to pay their credit card bills. Now, the company has also expanded into lending, insurance, commerce and wealth services. While signing off from CRED, he also chipped in a little achievement of his as the CEO, as he stated that the company achieved its first profitable quarter in 2026.