Tokyo/New Delhi, May 11 (PTI): Indian-origin Nikesh Arora has been appointed as president and chief operating officer of Japan's SoftBank and may become the next CEO as the telecom major expands its presence in the overseas market, including India.

Arora will assume his new role on June 19.

At the company's earnings conference, CEO Masayoshi Son said the former Google executive was a "strong candidate" to lead the company in future. "He's 10 years younger than me, and he has more abilities than me," Son said.

"The last nine months I've spent with him have made me sure of that. Nikesh and I will lead SoftBank in its second stage," he said.

Son added that Arora's experience and insight on the global Internet business model would help SoftBank grow further.

If Arora becomes the CEO of SoftBank in future, he will join the ranks of PepsiCo's Indra Nooyi, Microsoft's Satya Nadella, Mastercard's Ajay Banga and Adobe's Shantanu Narayen, the Indian-origin business leaders heading global giants.

"Nikesh used to be No. 2 at Google. So, he is well-versed with the best technology and business model of Internet companies and has great connections. With his experience and insights, he would serve as a great partner. Together, we could lead Softbank to further growth," he said.

"Nikesh is a strong candidate for successor. For the first time since our listing, he is the only person as president other than me. I gave that post to him that means that I want... " Son said.

On his own role, Son said he would be chairman and CEO, relinquishing the president's post.

Speaking further on Arora being his successor, "I am still young so of course I will lead the management as I did for the past years, but the timing of the succession of throne I can't tell you today officially. But unless Nikesh is hit by a car or anything happens to him, he may be the primary candidate of my successor," Son added.

SoftBank had engaged Arora as the vice-chairman of SoftBank Corp and CEO of SB Group US in September from Google.