Cisco has picked an insider Chuck Robbins to replace long-time CEO John Chambers, after the company initiated a search for the latter’s replacement for 16 months.
Robbins, who has been elected to the company’s board, will take over the role of CEO on July 26. Chambers, who has served as CEO of Cisco since January 1995, will assume the role of executive chairman and continue to serve as the chairman of the company’s board.
“This is the perfect time for Chuck Robbins to become Cisco's next Chief Executive Officer. We've selected a very strong leader at a time when Cisco is in a very strong position,” Chambers said.
“Today’s pace of change is exponential. Every company, city and country is becoming digital, navigating disruptive markets, and Cisco’s role in the digital transformation has never been more important. Our next CEO needs to thrive in a highly dynamic environment, to be capable of accelerating what is working very well for Cisco, and disrupting what needs to change.”
Robbins joined Cisco in 1997 and most recently served as senior vice president of worldwide operations, where he has led the company’s global sales and partner team that drives $47 billion in business for Cisco, according to a company statement.
He has helped lead and execute many of Cisco’s investments and strategy shifts, including building the company’s partner program, which now worth more than $40 billion in revenue.
Robbins was a key architect of the company’s strategy for the commercial business segment, which grew 8% year-over-year last quarter, and is now 25% of Cisco's total business.
He was also involved in the company’s acquisitions of Sourcefire and Meraki, Cisco added.