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What is the story about?
Meta Platforms' decision to appoint Kunal Shah as the new global head of WhatsApp emerged from a series of conversations that initially had nothing to do with recruitment, according to a report by Bloomberg.
The report said Meta Chief Product Officer Chris Cox had been speaking with entrepreneurs and investors across major WhatsApp markets, including India, Brazil and Mexico, to gather views on the messaging platform's future leadership and growth opportunities.
During one such discussion, Shah's views on WhatsApp's evolution and long-term potential stood out. Bloomberg reported that what began as an advisory conversation gradually developed into discussions about Shah himself taking charge of the platform.
Cox told Bloomberg that Shah's responses demonstrated a deep understanding of the product and its future possibilities, ultimately prompting Meta to consider him for the top role.
According to the report, Shah's experience operating in India, WhatsApp's largest market, was a key factor behind the appointment. Meta executives believed that someone who has spent years building products for consumers in a WhatsApp-first market could bring insights that are difficult to acquire through research alone.
Bloomberg reported that the recruitment process stretched over three months and involved multiple visits by Shah to Meta's headquarters in California, including meetings with senior leadership.
Meta executives also viewed Shah's appointment as an opportunity to bring an entrepreneurial perspective into a leadership team largely made up of long-serving company executives, the report said.
Also read: From CRED to WhatsApp: Kunal Shah takes charge of World's biggest messaging app, marking a milestone for India
Outgoing WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart, who has led the platform since 2019, will remain at Meta and focus on developing new consumer products centred on artificial intelligence, according to Bloomberg.
The report said Meta Chief Product Officer Chris Cox had been speaking with entrepreneurs and investors across major WhatsApp markets, including India, Brazil and Mexico, to gather views on the messaging platform's future leadership and growth opportunities.
During one such discussion, Shah's views on WhatsApp's evolution and long-term potential stood out. Bloomberg reported that what began as an advisory conversation gradually developed into discussions about Shah himself taking charge of the platform.
Cox told Bloomberg that Shah's responses demonstrated a deep understanding of the product and its future possibilities, ultimately prompting Meta to consider him for the top role.
According to the report, Shah's experience operating in India, WhatsApp's largest market, was a key factor behind the appointment. Meta executives believed that someone who has spent years building products for consumers in a WhatsApp-first market could bring insights that are difficult to acquire through research alone.
Bloomberg reported that the recruitment process stretched over three months and involved multiple visits by Shah to Meta's headquarters in California, including meetings with senior leadership.
Meta executives also viewed Shah's appointment as an opportunity to bring an entrepreneurial perspective into a leadership team largely made up of long-serving company executives, the report said.
Also read: From CRED to WhatsApp: Kunal Shah takes charge of World's biggest messaging app, marking a milestone for India
Outgoing WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart, who has led the platform since 2019, will remain at Meta and focus on developing new consumer products centred on artificial intelligence, according to Bloomberg.
