WhatsApp’s new boss: An Indian start‑up founder takes the helm

Tue Jun 23 2026 16:49:27 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

WhatsApp’s chief Will Cathcart steps down, paving the way for Kunal Shah of fintech start‑up Cred to lead the messaging app.

WhatsApp’s longtime boss Will Cathcart has announced his resignation after nearly seven years steering the app’s growth. Meta has appointed Kunal Shah, founder of the Indian fintech firm Cred, to take over as chief. Shah brings a builder mindset and global experience, while Meta will hold a 20% stake in Cred and a minority share of WhatsApp’s leadership. The change underscores Meta’s focus on expanding WhatsApp’s reach, especially in India where the app dominates messaging traffic.

WhatsApp’s new boss: An Indian start‑up founder takes the helm

After almost seven years of steering WhatsApp, chief Will Cathcart announced his resignation via social media on Monday.

Meta’s board has named Kunal Shah – the founder of the Bengaluru‑based fintech giant Cred – as the new head of WhatsApp.

Shah, who built Cred into a members‑only payment service that rewards quick credit‑card payments, said he will remain a shareholder as he steps into the WhatsApp role. Meta will acquire a 20% stake in Cred through a $900 million investment while keeping no access to user data.

Zuckerberg praised Shah’s “builder mentality and global perspective”, saying WhatsApp will continue to serve billions of users and businesses worldwide.

This leadership shuffle comes as Meta tightens its focus on India, where WhatsApp’s user base exceeds 850 million and the app faces scrutiny over data sharing practices.