Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp has appointed Alex Clavel as chief executive officer (CEO) of SoftBank Group International (SBGI), effective June 30, 2022. 

Clavel, currently Managing Partner at SBGI, will succeed Michel Combes, who has decided to step down after five years at SoftBank to pursue new opportunities.

Clavel will bring seven years of leadership experience at SoftBank across Tokyo, Silicon Valley and New York to the role, in which he will oversee SBGI’s operations and investment portfolio, including its stakes in Boston Dynamics, SoFi, Fortress, T-Mobile, Arm, among other portfolio companies. 

Together with the SoftBank Vision Funds, SBGI is responsible for all SoftBank Group Corp  activities outside of Japan, including across Europe, the US, Asia and Latin America.

“Building on more than two decades of experience in corporate development and investing, Alex has long been a trusted leader at SoftBank in multiple locations around the globe. I am confident that his experience – combined with the strong SoftBank team around him – will serve us well as we continue our journey as Vision Capitalists,” said Masayoshi Son, Representative Director, Corporate Officer, Chairman & CEO of SoftBank Group Corp.

“I am honoured by the trust Masa has placed in me to lead SBGI and am fortunate to have worked alongside Michel. I am excited to build on our success and for what’s to come,” said Clavel.

Clavel serves as a director on the boards of numerous companies and investment vehicles, including Arm China, Boston Dynamics, InMobi, SB Energy, Goggo, and Levere Holdings Corp. Clavel joined SoftBank in Tokyo in 2015 and worked in SoftBank’s Silicon Valley office before moving to New York with SoftBank in 2018.