Scale AI Appoints Google Cloud Executive Francis deSouza as CEO After Year-Long Vacancy

Scale AI Inc. appoints Google Cloud executive Francis deSouza as its first permanent chief executive officer in over a year, effective August 10, 2026. DeSouza succeeds interim CEO Jason Droege, who assumed the role after founder Alexandr Wang left to join Meta Platforms Inc. The transition follows Meta's $14.3 billion investment in the data-labeling startup, during which Meta hired Wang away.

Scale AI CEO appointment

• ▪Francis deSouza succeeds interim chief executive officer Jason Droege, who led Scale AI Inc. after founder Alexandr Wang departed.
• ▪Scale AI Inc. appointed Francis deSouza as its first permanent chief executive officer in more than a year, with the role commencing on August 10, 2026.

Meta's Scale AI investment

• ▪Meta Platforms Inc. hired away Scale AI Inc. founder and chief executive officer Alexandr Wang.
• ▪Meta Platforms Inc. invested $14.3 billion in the data-labeling startup Scale AI Inc.

Francis deSouza background

• ▪Scale AI Inc. appointed Francis deSouza, an executive from Alphabet Inc.’s Google, as its chief executive officer.
• ▪Francis deSouza serves as the chief operating officer and president of security products at Google Cloud.

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