Meta Platforms has appointed CRED founder Kunal Shah as the new global head of WhatsApp, as part of a broader deal that includes a $900 million (around ₹8,550 crore) investment in the Indian fintech startup at a $4.5 billion valuation. Shah takes over from WhatApp's current head, Will Cathcart, who will be stepping down.
"Kunal Shah will join Meta as WhatsApp's next leader. Kunal built Cred into one of India's most important technology companies, and 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," Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, said on June 22.
The investment gives Meta a minority stake in Bengaluru-based CRED, valuing it at approximately $4.5 billion, and deepens the tech giant's footprint in India's rapidly growing digital payments and financial services sector.
With the appointment, Shah becomes the first Indian chief executive of the global messaging platform. He will succeed Will Cathcart, who has led WhatsApp since 2019 and will transition to a newly created division within Meta focused on building next-generation products.
Shah will relocate from Bengaluru to Meta's headquarters in Menlo Park, California. Miten Sampat, who has led strategy and finance at CRED since 2020, will take over as interim CEO of the fintech company with immediate effect.
Who Is Kunal Shah?
Shah launched CRED in 2018 as an exclusive rewards platform aimed at consumers with solid credit histories. From 2019 to 2025, the platform’s membership rose to 17 million as it broadened its offerings to include payments, lending, insurance, commerce, wealth management, and credit card services. The company recorded its first profitable quarter in 2026.
Apart from CRED, Shah ranks among India’s most active angel investors, having funded startups in sectors such as fintech, education, mobility, gaming, and e-commerce. He has also worked as a part-time partner at Y Combinator and served as an independent director at Pine Labs.
Meta Chief Product Officer Chris Cox described Shah as "one of India's most respected entrepreneurs."Reacting to the announcement, Shah said the gap between WhatsApp's current state and its full potential remains massive, and that he looks forward to working with Mark Zuckerberg and the broader Meta leadership team for the platform's next phase.