F5 yesterday announced the appointment of Michel Combes, to its board of directors. Combes, 61, is a proven leader with more than 30 years of experience in the telecommunications and technology industries. Combes joins F5’s board effective September 29, 2023. Combes previously served as a director for F5 from July 2018 to March 2021.
Combes currently serves as Executive Vice President at Claure Group, a global entrepreneurial and investment firm. He served previously as Chief Executive Officer and as president of SoftBank Group International, from June 2020 to June 2022, and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Sprint from January 2018 until April 2020. His prior leadership roles also include Chief Executive Officer of Altice N.V., Chief Executive Officer of Alcatel-Lucent, Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Europe, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of TDF Group, and Chief Financial Officer and Senior Executive Vice President of France Telecom.
Combes currently serves as Director and Chair of the Audit Committee for Phillip Morris International, and as Director and Chair of the Nominations & Renumerations Committee for Etisalat. He is also a member of the Advisory Team of McLaren Racing Limited.
Combes is a graduate of École Polytechnique and Télécom ParisTech, with a focus in engineering.
Alan Higginson, chair of the F5, Inc. board
We are pleased to welcome Michel back to the F5 board. His experience leading some of the world’s largest telecom operators gives him unparalleled insight into a large segment of F5’s customer base. He also brings a depth of operational experience managing large, complex organizations, technology industry expertise, and a strong global perspective to F5’s board.
