UNC-Chapel Hill graduate Chuck Robbins is wasting no time in putting his own stamp on Cisco’s management structure.
Two other senior execs are leaving the firm on the day Robbins takes over as CEO on July 25.
In a blog post headlined “Leadership Transitions for the Digital Age,” Robbins told the world at dawn Pacific time Monday that Cisco Presidents Gary Moore and Rob Lloyd – two longtime allies of chair and CEO John Chambers, are leaving.
Robbins has already said he plans a hands-on role as CEO, and in the blog he promised a flattened management structure. Chambers moves to the chair role the same day as Robbins takes over the CEO seat.
Just a few months ago, Chambers boasted about a corporate restructuring that led to the departure of a lot of Cisco managers. Those moves set the stage for his CEO retirement and the selection of Robbins. Cisco has has cut a lot of jobs, including some in RTP, as the company adapts to the tech revolutions triggered by clold computing and software-defined networking (SDN).
It’s clear Robbins is already flexing a lot of muscle.
“Over the last three years at Cisco, we’ve accomplished incredible things amidst an unbelievably dynamic time in our industry. During this period, we’ve delivered industry-leading innovation and increased our relevance with customers, and transformed Cisco. Our Presidents, Rob Lloyd and Gary Moore, have played a significant role in driving these results. Thanks to their vision, we have the strong foundation that will allow Cisco to lead in the digital age,” Robbins wrote.
But he wants a faster pace with simplified management.
Note the words he uses in explaining the changes.
“As I transition to the role of CEO, my focus areas are acceleration, simplification, operational rigor and culture. These will be the foundation for Cisco’s continued evolution that will position us for the future. The moves we’ve already made as a company in the last three years in Engineering, Sales and Services were designed to deliver innovation with speed and meet the needs and expectations of our customers.
“To drive our continued success and leadership, our organization structure must always evolve as the market changes. Today I am announcing that at the end of this fiscal year, Rob and Gary will be leaving Cisco. They will remain in their President roles until July 25th. Going forward, we will move to a flatter leadership team designed for the speed, innovation and execution that is required of us over the next decade.”
(Emphasis added.)
While Robbins praised both Moore and Lloyd, the two lost out in the new CEO selection process.
“Rob and Gary have provided tremendous leadership for Cisco. I believe that one of their greatest achievements is the breadth and depth of the leadership team they’ve helped build. They are both deeply passionate about developing great talent. I am confident that many of those world-class leaders they’ve recruited and mentored will no doubt lead Cisco into the future, and for this I’m incredibly grateful,” Robbins wrote.
Moore was Cisco’s first president and chief operating officer. Lloyd led sales and development.
Those are not positions of little importance, so the significance of the changes Robbins is making can’t be underestimated.
And Robbins is far from finished.
“Looking ahead, I will announce my next generation organizational structure and my leadership team within two weeks. This simplified structure will allow us to move with speed to accelerate our innovation and help our customers transform in the digital age.”
It will be interesting to see if Robbins promotes any of the current leadership at RTP’s huge Cisco campus – and what other changes he will make filter down to the Triangle work force.
