Ex-SoftBank COO Nikesh Arora awarded $128 mn to lead Palo Alto networks

Arora, who spent two years at SoftBank Group Corp. as founder Masayoshi Son's No. 2, became Japan's best-compensated public company executive in 2015

Nikesh Arora could become one of the highest-paid U.S. executives after being named to lead Palo Alto Networks Inc., which granted him a pay package worth about $128 million.

Arora, 50, is entitled to equity awards worth as much as $126 million when he takes over as chief executive officer on June 6, the Santa Clara, California-based company said Monday in a regulatory filing. About half of it will vest only if the firm’s shares more than double, while the rest is tied to his remaining on the job.

Arora, who spent two years at SoftBank Group Corp. as founder