A fair question to put to any Extreme Networks executive is this: When will the company move its entire headquarters to the Triangle from California?

If you had any doubts about Extreme Networks (Nasdaq: EXTR) being extremely serious about expanding its presence in RTP, then think again – immediately. Extreme’s latest executive hire is proof that RTP is becoming the company’s real hub. Extreme moved into new office space in Morrisville three weeks ago. And the company continues to beef up its executive lineup with Triangle talent after having moved its engineering headquarters here in the fall of 2011. 

This morning, Extreme Networks announced it had hired longtime Cisco executive Ed Carney as its vice president for “product and customer success.”

Anyone who has worked in the Triangle’s tech community over the past 15 years should have heard the name Ed Carney.

He served as Cisco’s top site executive in RTP from 2000-2003. He led efforts to bring growth to Cisco’s RTP campus, which now is the company’s largest and employs some 5,000 people.

Due in large part to Carney’s efforts, Cisco built a huge networking labs and customer support center in RTP.

Now after 15 years with Cisco in the Park, Carney is joining Extreme.

A former Army Ranger, Carney is a dynamo who knows only one direction.

Forward.

By the way, Carney also is a former IBMer.

“We have always been known for extreme product innovation. Ed has an impressive history of consistently delivering great networking products, leading successful teams and delivering a superior customer experience,” said Chuck Berger, Extreme Networks’s chief executive network, in announcing Carney’s hire. “Our ability to attract an executive of Ed’s caliber is another testament to Extreme Networks potential going forward. We all look forward to working with Ed in the coming years.”

Carney said he will focus on customer service – something he did at Cisco.

“I look forward to helping Extreme Networks extend our R&D leadership that accelerates innovation, difference making services and provides an excellent customer experience across the board,” Carney said.

Other Additions

Carney’s hire is just the latest in senior executive additions made by Extreme, which is based in San Jose, with Triangle talent.

In May of 2012, Extreme hired John Kurtzweil, for chief financial officer of Cree.

In January,  Marykay Wells, chief information officer at nearby Tekelec, joined Extreme as its CIO. Wells held the Tekelec job for the past five years.

Also joining Extreme in January was former Cisco executive Joe Novak as vice president of customer service. Novak most recently worked at Allscripts. Prior to Allscripts, he directed Cisco;s East Coast technical services center in RTP

Extreme Networks also recently announced a partnership deal with Lenovo, which operates its executive headquarters in Morrisville. Plus, EMC (which has a huge RTP area presence in R&D and manufacturing) recently certified Extreme network gear. 

No doubt about it. Extreme is now a major player in the Triangle – and apparently will be growing only larger.