New Delhi, June 22 -- Meta Platforms Inc. has named fintech entrepreneur Kunal Shah as the new global head of WhatsApp, pulling off an unusual executive crossover as part of a $900 million investment in his financial services startup Cred.

Shah, who has previously founded and sold FreeCharge and backed a range of Indian startups, will replace Will Cathcart, who has led WhatsApp since 2019. Cathcart will move to a new role at Meta, focused on building products from scratch.

"Kunal built Cred into one of India's most important technology companies, and he brings the kind of builder mentality and global perspective that will serve him well in running the world's biggest messaging app," Meta founder and Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerbe...