HT TECH wants to start sending you push notifications. Click allow to subscribe

WhatsApp hires Amazon Pay's Mahatme to lead India payments

WhatsApp last year received a much-delayed approval for the launch of its payments system in India, but so far its rollout has been capped by regulators at 20 million users.

By: REUTERS
Updated on: Aug 21 2022, 15:46 IST
With more than 500 million users, WhatsApp counts India as its biggest market. (Bloomberg)
With more than 500 million users, WhatsApp counts India as its biggest market. (Bloomberg)

WhatsApp has hired a top Amazon executive to head its payments business in India, two sources told Reuters, as the messenger service gears up to expand in the booming sector.

Manesh Mahatme, who has worked at Amazon Pay for nearly seven years, is due to join WhatsApp's payment service soon, one of the sources said on Friday.

You may be interested in

7% OFF
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
  • Black Titanium
  • 8 GB RAM
  • 256 GB Storage
₹148,900₹159,900
Buy now
23% OFF
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G
  • Green
  • 12 GB RAM
  • 256 GB Storage
₹115,999₹149,999
Buy now
Google Pixel 8 Pro
  • Obsidian
  • 12 GB RAM
  • 128 GB Storage
₹106,998
Check details
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
  • Black
  • 6 GB RAM
  • 128 GB Storage
₹87,900
Check details

WhatsApp and Amazon Pay were not immediately available for comment. Mahatme declined to comment.

Also read: Don’t know about your messages, but your WhatsApp Pay details are safe, as per the pay policy

With more than 500 million users, WhatsApp counts India as its biggest market, where it is the newest entrant in India's digital payments sector, which PwC and Indian industry body ASSOCHAM say is set to be worth $135 billion by 2023.

WhatsApp last year received a much-delayed approval for the launch of its payments system in India, but so far its rollout has been capped by regulators at 20 million users.

But it has big ambitions and a deal by Facebook last year to invest $5.7 billion in billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Jio Platforms digital unit, will allow WhatsApp to offer payments services to millions of mom-and-pop stores.

"Mahatme is a hardcore payments professional, that's the missing link for WhatsApp," one of the sources said.

Read more: Paytm UPI handle gets SEBI’s nod for issuing IPO mandates

Amazon Pay has been increasingly offering users online bill payments and also acts as a digital wallet-service on the e-commerce giant's India website.

As a director, Mahatme oversaw a team of senior product, engineering and business development leaders at Amazon Pay, his LinkedIn profile shows.

WhatsApp also has 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.

Catch all the Latest Tech News, Mobile News, Laptop News, Gaming news, Wearables News , How To News, also keep up with us on ,Twitter, Facebook, , and Instagram. For our latest videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel.

First Published Date: 19 Mar, 15:26 IST

Sale

4% OFF
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
  • Titanium Black
  • 12 GB RAM
  • 256 GB Storage
₹129,999₹134,999
Buy now
7% OFF
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
  • Black Titanium
  • 8 GB RAM
  • 256 GB Storage
₹148,900₹159,900
Buy now
13% OFF
Xiaomi 14
  • Matte Black
  • 12 GB RAM
  • 512 GB Storage
₹69,999₹79,999
Buy now
10% OFF
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
  • Black
  • 6 GB RAM
  • 128 GB Storage
₹80,990₹89,900
Buy now
NEXT ARTICLE BEGINS