Facebook-owned messaging service WhatsApp is looking for talent to step into India’s flourishing digital payments market. It is planning to rope in former Paytm vice-president Amit Lakhotia to head its payments entity in India.
According to the industry sources, multiple WhatsApp executives, including its chief executive officer Chris Daniels, have interviewed the candidates during recent visits to India. All these interviews are done to finalise the country head of WhatsApp in India.
Reports also suggest that former India head of Amazon’s financial services, Sriraman Jagannathan, was also in the league. However, Jagannathan stepped out of it.
It is reported that Neeraj Arora, WhatsApp business head and one of its early employees, was recently in India to complete the hiring process. It is said to be his last major assignment before he quits the company to start his fund in the United States.
As of now, WhatsApp has one corporate entity in India, by the name of WhatsApp Application Services Limited. The office is registered in Hyderabad with Rakesh Rewari and Anne Hoge Milken as directors.
WhatsApp is facing challenges in terms of getting the final nod from the regulatory authorities. Last month, the Supreme Court of India issued a notice to WhatsApp, enquiring about the appointed a grievance officer in India.
