Kunal Shah replaces Will Cathcart as head of WhatsApp

Cathcart, who assumed leadership of WhatsApp in 2019, steered the application through a period of intense evolution. His tenure saw the integration of encrypted chat backups, the long-awaited launch of an iPad version, and the recent introduction of AI-powered conversational tools. Zuckerberg confirmed that Cathcart will remain within Meta, transitioning into an unspecified new role at the company.

Shah exits his position as CEO of Cred to spearhead the messaging giant. As part of the transition, Meta is securing a 20 percent stake in the Indian fintech firm. Zuckerberg praised the appointment, citing Shah’s success in scaling Cred as evidence of the builder mentality required to manage the world’s most widely used messaging service.