WhatsApp boss Will Cathcart leaving role
Will Cathcart is stepping down as head of WhatsApp after nearly seven years leading the messaging platform, with Cred founder Kunal Shah set to take over.
Will Cathcart is stepping down as head of WhatsApp after nearly seven years overseeing the growth of the messaging platform into one of the world's most widely used communications services.
Cathcart announced his departure in posts on social media on Monday (22.06.26), saying the Meta-owned platform was in "the strongest position it's ever been" and that it "felt like the right moment to step back".
During his tenure, WhatsApp expanded its private messaging services to more than three billion users worldwide and became a key part of Meta's strategy to build secure communications, business tools and artificial intelligence features.
Despite leaving the role, Cathcart will remain within Meta's leadership team.
His successor will be Kunal Shah, founder of Indian fintech company Cred, marking a significant leadership change for one of Meta's most important products.
Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg praised the appointment, describing Shah as a proven technology entrepreneur.
The tech boss said: "Kunal has built one of India's most important technology companies. He brings the kind of builder mentality and global perspective that will serve him well in running the world's biggest messaging app.
"I look forward to working with Kunal to continue to make WhatsApp the best service for billions of people and millions of businesses."
Shah founded Cred in 2018 as a members-only financial services platform designed to reward users for responsible credit card management. Based in Bengaluru, the company has become one of India's best-known fintech firms.
Writing on LinkedIn, Shah confirmed he would remain a shareholder in Cred while taking up his new role at WhatsApp.
He also revealed that Meta had invested $900 million (£679 million) in the company. According to Bloomberg, the investment gives Meta a 20 per cent stake in Cred.
Shah stressed that Meta would remain a minority investor and would have "no access to member data".
The leadership transition comes as Meta seeks to strengthen WhatsApp's position in India, its largest market.
The messaging app has an estimated 853 million users in the country and has become a central part of Meta's efforts to generate revenue through advertising, subscriptions and AI-powered services.
However, WhatsApp has also faced increased scrutiny in India over privacy concerns and data-sharing practices involving its parent company.
Cathcart's departure marks the end of a major chapter for WhatsApp as the platform enters a new phase focused on monetisation, AI integration and continued global expansion.
