WhatsApp Pay India Head Quits

Vinay Choletti, the head of WhatsApp's India payment business, has quit the firm within four months of taking charge, making him the latest in a series of senior-level departures at parent company Meta Platform. 

Choletti made the announcement on LinkedIn late Tuesday, adding that he believes WhatsApp has the power to transform digital payments and financial inclusion in India. His departure follows the resignation of WhatsApp India head Abhijit Bose, public policy director Rajiv Aggarwal, and India's head Ajit Mohan in November.

Choletti's resignation comes as a surprise, given that he had only taken up the role in August 2022. He had previously served as the head of strategic partnerships at the company and was well-respected for his knowledge and expertise in the fintech industry. He had also worked at Amazon India and Google India before joining WhatsApp.

Choletti's departure is part of a larger trend of senior-level departures at Meta Platform. In November, Abhijit Bose, the head of WhatsApp India, resigned after nearly three years in the role. He was succeeded by Komal Lahiri, who had previously worked at Google India and Microsoft. Rajiv Aggarwal, Meta's public policy director in India, also resigned in November, and his position has been filled by Shantanu Sinha.

In addition to the changes in executive roles, WhatsApp has also been facing regulatory challenges in India. The company has been in talks with the Reserve Bank of India to launch its payments service in the country but has been unable to do so due to regulatory hurdles. The company has also been in the news for its role in fake news and misinformation, which has prompted the government to take action against it.