One of the top executives for Amazon is now reportedly working for WhatsApp. The messenger service company is looking for an expansion in India. To help with the expansion, WhatsApp has appointed Manesh Mahatme to join the company’s payment service.
WhatsApp brings a special feature to India
WhatsApp is currently one of the biggest messenger apps in the world. The app hosts over 500 million users, with India as one of the biggest markets.
India has been receiving some special offers from WhatsApp, such as the WhatsApp payment system. After a long wait for the approval of the payments system in India, Reuters noted that WhatsApp payment has been capped by regulators at 20 million users. Additionally, PwC and Indian industry body ASSOCHAM bet that the company’s new feature might worth $135 billion by 2023 after seeing its success.
Accordingly, WhatsApp is aiming big in India. Its deal with Facebook for a $5.7 billion investment in Jio Platforms digital unit will give WhatsApp access to offer payments services to millions of mom-and-pop stores. The company further plans to deepen its partnership with banks in bid to offer financial services such as pensions and insurance, its India head Abhijit Bose – also a payments industry veteran – said last year.
Manesh Mahatme: from Amazon to WhatsApp
WhatsApp is not going easy with the expansion. The company is bringing in AmazonPay’s top executive, Manesh Mahatme, in the game. A source from Reuters said, “Mahatme is a hardcore payments professional, that’s the missing link for WhatsApp”.
Mahatme’s previous position as a director allowed him to oversee a team of senior product, engineering and business development leaders at Amazon Pay. His current position in WhatsApp, however, is still undisclosed. In the meantime, WhatsApp, AmazonPay and Mahatme all decided to remain silent.
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