Cisco’s new chief executive Chuck Robbins took the reins on Monday and marked the occasion by writing a blog post in which he heralded the start of the next chapter at the network equipment maker.
But it was hard to view the change in leadership as anything other than the end of an era, given that outgoing CEO John Chambers joined Cisco as long ago as 1991 and has led the firm for the past 20 years.
Chambers, who will turn 66 next month, announced his decision to step down more than a year ago and in May Cisco named Robbins, also a long-serving company employee with 18 years of service under his belt, as his replacement.
As Robbins takes on the top job, Chambers moves upstairs, becoming Cisco’s executive chairman and continuing his remit as company chairman.
"We’re so well positioned in the market because of the vision, strategy and culture that John built, and we are all thankful for this," Robbins said, adding that he is confident Cisco will build on this position going forward.
"For 50 years, the IT industry has been bringing data to the ‘computer’," he said. "Now, we’re bringing computing – with analytics, insights, and actions – to the data. Only Cisco, and only the network, can deliver the highly secure, distributed, and intelligent infrastructure and solutions required in today’s highly dynamic digital world."
Robbins welcomed two newcomers to Cisco’s leadership team, Zorawar Biri Singh, who becomes the firm’s chief technology officer, platforms and solutions, and Kevin Bandy, who will serve as its chief digital officer.
"A diverse set of perspectives and experiences is important to me as we build Cisco’s next chapter," Robbins said.
"We’ve looked at leaders from around the world, and I am convinced that we are adding two of the most strategic and innovative leaders to the Cisco team," he said. "Their creative thinking will make us even stronger."
Robbins and his team face quite a challenge in guiding Cisco through the coming years and big changes in the industry. But on day one, at least, the new chief executive was full of optimism.
"What’s ahead for Cisco is truly extraordinary and our time is now," Robbins said.
