12 Top Cisco Execs Who Left In 2015 (And Where They Landed)
The Revolving Door
Cisco had a tough year in 2015 holding on to a number of its top executives as CEO Chuck Robbins selected a new "next-generation" leadership team.
The San Jose, Calif.-based networking giant underwent its biggest leadership change in more than two decades with Robbins taking the helm and many of its longtime executives heading for the door. Some executives who departed were seen as front-runners to succeed former CEO John Chambers. Many of the people who left Cisco moved on to take top roles in companies such as Dell and BlackBerry, while others formed their own startups.
Here's a look at a dozen Cisco executives who left in 2015 and where they landed.
Rob Lloyd
Previous Position: President, Development and Sales
Years at Cisco: 21
Once seen as one of the front-runners to replace Chambers, Lloyd left the company in July after more than two decades shortly after it was revealed that Robbins was selected for the leadership role. Lloyd oversaw sales and engineering as well as the company's Internet of Everything business, Cisco's version of the Internet of Things, and previously served as executive vice president of worldwide operations.
Where is he now? Hyperloop Technologies
In September, Lloyd took the role as CEO of Hyperloop Technologies, a transportation startup striving to revolutionize the industry. The startup is in the process of raising $80 million in a Series B funding round after capturing $11 million in its first round.
Padmasree Warrior
Previous Position: Chief Technology and Strategy Officer
Years at Cisco: 7
Cisco's highly popular former CTO announced her departure shortly after it was revealed Robbins was selected as the new CEO. Warrior joined Cisco in 2008 as its CTO, which was later upgraded to chief technology and strategy officer with new responsibilities such as thought leadership around products and architectures, technical talent development and recruiting. While at Cisco, she also served as a board member for Gap and Box.
Where is she now? NextEV
Although rumors were swirling throughout the year as to where she would land, Warrior was named the new chief development officer at electric car startup NextEV. She also became CEO of NextEV U.S., and head of software development for the Shanghai, China-based company. She also was named to the Microsoft board.
Edison Peres
Previous Position: Senior Vice President, Cloud and Managed Services
Years at Cisco: 14
The highly respected channel veteran left the networking giant in October after revealing his planned departure in August. Peres was Cisco's senior vice president of worldwide channels for more than a decade before he took the role as senior vice president of cloud and managed services in 2014. In 2013, he was named CRN's Top Channel Sales Leader of the year. Partners went so far as hailing Peres as the "Godfather" of Cisco's current channel strategy.
Where is he now? Retired
Edison told CRN that he was officially retiring after his time at Cisco. His LinkedIn profile shows his last job experience was at Cisco.
Paul Perez
Previous Position: Vice President and General Manager, Computing Systems
Years at Cisco: 3
Perez was hailed as the driving force behind Cisco's successful Unified Computing System before he left the company in March. He also once served as Cisco's CTO of its Data Center Group. Prior to Cisco, Perez did a 27-year stint at Hewlett-Packard.
Where is he now? Dell
Perez jumped ship to Dell to rake on the role of Chief Technology Officer. He joined Dell as the company begins to ramp up its enterprise charge. In April, he spoke to CRN about how Dell is ready to take on enterprise competitors.
Gary Moore
Previous Position: President, Chief Operating Officer
Years at Cisco: 14
Moore was named Cisco's first COO in 2011 and led the company's services businesses for 12 years where, under his leadership, Cisco Services grew from $3 billion to nearly $10 billion in annual revenue. He left the networking giant in July, although Cisco banned Moore and Rob Lloyd from working at 29 competitors including Hewlett-Packard, Dell and Amazon Web Services.
Where is he now? vArmour and Finjan board member
Moore is a board member at vArmour, a data center security specialist, and Finjan, a global Web security company. Moore talked to CRN in November about his decision to leave Cisco, the internal candidates for CEO and his security background.
Bruce Klein
Previous Position: Senior Vice President, Worldwide Partner Organization; Global Channel Chief
Years at Cisco: 11
The star of Cisco's 2015 Cisco Partner Summit in Montreal, Klein left Cisco in July after leading the company's channel for three years. Prior to his channel chief role, Klein spent nearly eight years running Cisco's public sector as senior vice president. Wendy Bahr, a 15-year Cisco veteran with a strong channel background, replaced Klein.
Where is he now? Not known
When Klein left in July, Cisco said he "decided to pursue other opportunities outside Cisco." According to his LinkedIn profile, he has yet to list a new employer.
Richard McLeod
Previous Position: Senior Director, Worldwide Collaboration Channel Sales
Years at Cisco: 13
Cisco's former channel collaborative sales leader, McLeod left Cisco in August. He was key in architecting the company's channel program and its certifications for unified communications and collaboration. McLeod help grow Cisco's UC and collaboration business from $350 million in 2002 revenue to nearly $5 billion for fiscal year 2015. He also played a role in launching the cloud-based application Cisco Spark last year.
Where is he now? BlackBerry
McLeod is now the head of BlackBerry's Global Enterprise Software Channels. He took the role in November and is responsible for channel sales execution, global channel programs, strategic alliances, ISV and OEM partner business development, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Wim Elfrink
Previous Position: Executive Vice President, Industry Solutions; Chief Globalization Officer
Years at Cisco: 18
Wim Elfrink left the company after in July after helping lead Cisco's efforts around the Internet of Things. He established Cisco's Globalization Centre East in Bangalore, India, which grew into the company's second world headquarters with more than 10,000 employees.
Where is he now? WPE Ventures Digitized Solutions
Elfrink founded startup WPE Ventures Digitized Solutions in September, which focuses on security and digitization by leveraging IoT technology to drive business outcomes, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Edzard Overbeek
Previous Position: Senior Vice President, Cisco Services
Years at Cisco: 15
Overbeek was another front-runner candidate to succeed former CEO Chambers, before announcing his planned departure from the company in June. The Cisco veteran was a major player abroad as president of Cisco's Asia-Pacific, Japan and Greater China region before becoming the top services executive in 2012. Overbeek oversaw the design and implementation of the company’s commercial line of businesses as vice president of the EMEA region.
Where is he now? Strategic Adviser Role
In June, Cisco said Overbeek will leave the company in one year and became a strategic adviser in the interim.
Meraki Founders: Sanjit Biswas, John Bicket, Hans Robertson
Previous Positions: Biswas, Vice President, General Manager, Cloud Networking Group (pictured, left); Bicket, Vice President, Engineering, Cloud Networking Group (pictured, right); Robertson, Vice President, Product Management, Cloud Networking Group
Years at Cisco: 2 each
Just two years after Cisco acquired red-hot cloud-based networking provider Meraki for $1.2 billion, all three of the founders left the in early 2015. Biswas and Bicket, two Massachusetts Institute of Technology Ph.D. students, founded the company with Robertson, also an MIT graduate, based on what was called the MIT roofnet project.
Where are they now? Samsara (Biswas and Bicket); Robertson, Not known
Biswas and Bicket founded an Internet of Things company, Samsara, focusing on the sensor and networking market. In December, Samsara launched its inaugural IoT solution and is looking to on-board channel partners. Robertson has yet to list a new employer on his LinkedIn profile.