Removing former employees from Whatsapp groups

[DevonshireDumpling1]

I’ve recently joined a company in the last couple of weeks, I’m currently in my training period and will be taking over my site ( I will be the Branch Manager) from January.
I have been added to the team WhatsApp group already and it’s come to my attention that an employee who left months ago is still in the group for the social aspect?
I have spoken to the person I am replacing and they’ve advised me not to remove them as it is likely to cause friction in the team.
AIBU to remove this said person from the group when I take over? Company confidential information is shared in this group and I personally think that no ex-employees should be on it. Any tips to avoid ruffling the feathers when I first take over?

I agree with making a new group. We have 2, one for work messages and one for social. People get removed from the work one as soon as they leave but can stay on social as long as they want.

The work messages aren’t even particularly confidential, more X is off sick so can Y take over from Z when they get in. But it means that more important messages aren’t lost in a bunch of pics of people’s dogs/cats/kids in Christmas jumpers etc.

I would do this

What does HR say about it?

You can just say - we've had a message from HR that all work chats/groups cannot have ex employees in

When I left my workplace I was in the WA still, as were previous employees. A new WA group was started for work and the other one stayed for the social side

Why not, WA is end to end encrypted unlike email.