Masayoshi Son
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
He founded SOFTBANK (now SoftBank Group) in September 1981 and served as its Representative Director and President. In May 2004 he announced the acquisition of fixed-line carrier Japan Telecom from US-based Ripplewood Holdings for about ¥340.0 billion, gaining 6.4 million lines. In March 2006 he acquired Vodafone's Japanese unit for about ¥1,750.0 billion. Its shares were held by the wholly owned subsidiary BB Mobile, which as of the fiscal year ended March 2010 was the sole major shareholder with 100%.
Selection
In April 2006 the wholly owned subsidiary BB Mobile acquired 97.6% of Vodafone's shares through a tender offer, completing the conversion to a wholly owned subsidiary in August. The acquisition was led by Son, then President of SOFTBANK. In April that year Son became Representative Corporate Executive Officer, President and CEO of Vodafone. Just before the acquisition, the company's net subscriber additions in fiscal 2004 had been just under 40,000, and from the start of 2005 it had posted five consecutive months of net losses. It had also been delisted from the First Sections of the Tokyo and Osaka stock exchanges in August 2005.
Initiatives
In October 2006 the company changed its name to SoftBank Mobile Corp. and switched its brand from Vodafone to SoftBank. In April 2015 it absorbed SoftBank BB, SoftBank Telecom and Y!mobile, moving to a structure that ran fixed-line communications, mobile communications and MVNO business as one.
Career
Career
SoftBank Group
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Sep 1981 | Representative Director, President (at founding) |
| Jun 2017 | Representative Director, Chairman and President |
| Nov 2020 | Representative Director, Chairman and President, Executive Officer |
SoftBank
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Apr 2006 | Representative Corporate Executive Officer, President and CEO |
| Jun 2007 | Representative Director, President and CEO |
| Apr 2015 | Representative Director, Chairman |
| Apr 2015 | Stepped down as President |
| Apr 2018 | Chairman |
| Apr 2021 | Founder, Director |