New Delhi, June 24 -- What made Meta Platforms Inc. tap Kunal Shah to lead WhatsApp globally? For Chris Cox, the answer was, someone who understood how people actually use the app every day, and where its next big opportunities lie.

Shah, who built Cred (Dreamplug Technologies Pvt. Ltd.) into one of India's most talked-about fintech brands, will continue operating largely from Bengaluru even as he begins his leadership transition with visits to Meta's Menlo Park headquarters. His appointment comes at a time when WhatsApp's paid messaging business has crossed a $2 billion annual run rate, while ads and subscriptions are becoming increasingly important growth engines.

Is this also a sign that Meta sees India as more than just a market? Pe...