One of SoftBank's favorite tech bankers has left Goldman Sachs after 18 years

• Simon Holden, Goldman Sach's vice chairman for investment banking in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, has retired from the bank after 18 years.
• Holden was one of the key Goldman bankers responsible for covering Japanese technology conglomerate SoftBank.

Simon Holden, an 18-year veteran of Goldman Sachs' banking division and a key banker responsible for the firm's relationship with Japanese technology conglomerate SoftBank, has retired from the firm.

Holden was most recently the bank's vice chairman for investment banking in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, according to a memo sent late last year and viewed by Business Insider.

He previously served as chief operating officer of the investment banking division.

Prior to that, he served in a variety of senior roles in the bank's technology, media and telecom banking group. He joined Goldman as an executive director in 2000 and became partner in 2006.

Goldman has held a key role advising SoftBank over the last several years, including acting as the lead financial advisor to its $100 billion Vision Fund. The bank also served as the lead underwriter for the initial public offering for SoftBank's Japanese wireless business in December.