technology
WhatsApp Head Will Cathcart to Step Down; Kunal Shah Named Replacement
Meta is replacing Will Cathcart with Kunal Shah, founder of Indian fintech firm CRED, as head of WhatsApp. The change coincides with a $900 million Meta investment in CRED. Cathcart led the messaging service for more than seven years.
thehindubusinessline.comAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
Will Cathcart will step down as head of WhatsApp and be replaced by Kunal Shah, the founder of Indian fintech company CRED. Meta is investing $900 million in CRED as part of the leadership transition. CRED is now valued at $4.5 billion post-money, according to CNBC.
Cathcart led WhatsApp for more than seven years and will move to another role at Meta focused on building new products from the ground up, CNBC reported. Shah is stepping down as CEO of CRED to take the WhatsApp position. Meta acquired WhatsApp in 2014 for $19 billion.
The service now has more than 3 billion monthly active users, CNBC reported. Last month Meta began rolling out subscription plans for WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram. Mark Zuckerberg said Shah's builder mentality and global perspective made him a good fit to lead WhatsApp.
Cathcart wrote on X that WhatsApp is in the strongest position it has ever been and that the timing felt right to step back.
Transparency
How sources framed this
LeftNeutralRightStrategic builder transitionLeadership shake-up signals risk
LeftNeutralRightBuilder shiftShake-up risk
CorroborationModerate · 4 sources
