Yossi Cohen appointed strategic advisor at SoftBank as fund pivots toward AI

Yossi Cohen, the former director of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, has been elevated to strategic advisor at SoftBank, placing him closer to the organization’s top decision-making levels and to founder Masayoshi Son personally. The appointment, first reported by Israeli business publication Globes, marks a significant upgrade from Cohen’s previous role heading SoftBank’s Israeli operations. Cohen originally joined the Japanese investment giant in July 2021, working within the framework of Vision Fund 2 to scout and manage investments in Israeli tech companies. His new position expands his remit well beyond Israel, with a focus on artificial intelligence, data centers, cloud processing, and semiconductor investments. A track record built on cybersecurity wins Cohen’s promotion didn’t come out of nowhere. During his time leading Israeli operations, he oversaw Vision Fund investments in several notable cybersecurity firms, generating substantial returns. The most eye-catching: Wiz. SoftBank invested in the cybersecurity company at a $12 billion valuation, and the firm subsequently reached a $32 billion valuation. Cohen reportedly delivered several hundred million shekels in prof...