CRED founder Kunal Shah is taking over as the global Head of WhatsApp. This leadership move is part of Meta’s $900-million investment in the fintech major, taking the latter’s valuation to over $4.5 billion.
Shah replaces Will Cathcart at WhatsApp and Miten Sampat has been appointed interim CEO of CRED with immediate effect.
Shah shared in a LinkedIn post, “Meta comes in as a minority investor in CRED. While it’s come very far, the delta between WhatsApp today and its full potential is massive. I look forward to working with Mark, Chris, and the leadership across Meta for the next step in WhatsApp’s journey.” CRED was founded in 2018 and reported an operating revenue of ₹2,735 crore in FY25.
Kunal has built companies and invested in Indian entrepreneurs for a long time, which makes him somebody who truly understands what it means to build products that earn people’s trust.
Over 3 billion people use WhatsApp to communicate privately with their family and friends. It’s a lifeline for hundreds of millions of Indians – from families staying connected, to small businesses finding their next customer, to communities coming together in moments that matter. Having a leader who has seen firsthand the transformative power of technology in India is incredibly exciting for all of us.
Indian leaders aren’t just climbing corporate ladders , they’re reshaping global institutions, consumer categories, and the way the world communicates, shops, and works.