Cisco Systems Inc. gets new CEO ... a year earlier than expected

Cisco Systems Inc. appointed company veteran Chuck Robbins, pictured, chief executive to succeed John Chambers, as one of the longest running technology leaders leaves the position about a year ahead of schedule. Robbins assumes his new post on July 26. Chambers, 65, had said he would step down by the end of the fiscal year that ends in July 2016. Chambers will become executive chairman, the San Jose, Calif.-based company said Monday. Robbins, 49, joined Cisco in 1997. He most recently served as the networking company’s senior vice president of worldwide operations, leading the global sales and partners team, which Cisco said generates US$47 billion in business. He was also an architect of the company’s strategy for the commercial-business segment, which represents 25 per cent of Cisco’s total

business. Bloomberg News