WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart Steps Down, Kunal Shah Takes the Reins

Mon Jun 22 2026 20:11:55 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Meta announces leadership change: Will Cathcart exits while Kunal Shah, Cred founder, becomes WhatsApp head.

Meta’s flagship messaging app is seeing a major shift in its top brass. Chief executive Will Cathcart has announced he will step down after seven years at the helm, citing the platform’s strong position as a sign that it’s time to pass the baton. Meta’s chief, Mark Zuckerberg, has named Kunal Shah – the Bengaluru‑based fintech founder of Cred – as the new WhatsApp boss. The change comes as Meta looks to deepen its stakes in the Indian market and expand its minority investment in Cred, while Shah will keep his shareholder role in the fintech company.

WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart Steps Down, Kunal Shah Takes the Reins

Meta’s flagship messaging platform has seen a major leadership shake‑up after WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart announced his departure. Cathcart joined the company nearly seven years ago and has grown WhatsApp’s private chat services to more than three‑billion users worldwide.

In a brief statement on social media, Cathcart said the app was “in the strongest position it’s ever been” but felt it was the right moment to step back. He clarified that he will still hold a leadership role within Meta’s broader executive team.

Meta’s head of global business, Mark Zuckerberg, declared that Kunal Shah – founder of the Indian fintech startup Cred – will become the new head of WhatsApp. Zuckerberg praised Shah for building one of “India’s most important technology companies” and noted that his “builder mentality and global perspective” will benefit the platform.

Shah, whose Cred has pitched a “members‑only” payment reward service to high‑earning Indians, is also a shareholder in the company. Cred has previously raised $900 million in investment from Meta, giving the social‑media giant a 20% stake while ensuring it has no access to user data.

With the change, Meta is looking to solidify its foothold in India, where WhatsApp has roughly 853 million users. The move comes amid growing scrutiny over the platform’s privacy practices and Meta’s data sharing strategy.

For more on WhatsApp’s business model and regulatory challenges, see How does WhatsApp make money? It’s free – with some tricks and Why is WhatsApp’s privacy policy facing a legal challenge in India?.