The appointment of Cred founder Kunal Shah as WhatsApp's new CEO has sparked a wave of reactions across social media, with industry leaders welcoming the move while some users raised questions about the platform's future direction.
The development comes as WhatsApp prepares for a leadership transition following the departure of long-time executive Will Cathcart. Several tech leaders congratulated Cathcart for his contribution to the messaging platform while also expressing optimism about Shah's new role.
Rob Sherman, vice president of policy and deputy chief privacy officer at Meta, wrote: “Congratulations and thank you for everything you put into making WhatsApp the product and the community it is today. And thank you for your commitment to creating technology that gives everyone the ability to communicate privately”.
Executives from Coinbase and Stripe praised Cathcart’s leadership and wished him well for the future. Many also pointed to Kunal Shah’s experience in building startups such as FreeCharge and Cred, saying his entrepreneurial background could help guide WhatsApp through its next phase of growth.
Gupshup senior director Nityanand Gopalika welcomed Shah’s appointment, saying, “Great move for you and Meta both. WhatsApp is one of the best consumer products and Kunal Shah is one of the consumer insight leaders.”
Some commentators viewed the appointment as a milestone for Indian entrepreneurship. Saurabh Singh, a YouTube strategist and scriptwriter, wrote, “A proud moment for India. Kunal Shah leading WhatsApp would mean an Indian entrepreneur is steering one of the largest distribution platforms in the world. It reflects how Indian talent is increasingly shaping products used by billions globally.”
On the other hand, some expressed concern about how WhatsApp would evolve under its new leadership, particularly its potential monetisation efforts, new business features, and privacy related concerns. Others questioned the fit between Shah’s background and the role, with one user asking, “How can a financial domain expert lead a social media service?”
