Cisco today announced a restructuring of its Asia
Pacific and Japan operations to support its investments and growth
plans in the Asia Pacific and Japan region.
Effective February 2010, the company will create three theaters that
will enable a more focused strategy and investment of resources to
countries within the region.
China P.R.C., Hong Kong and Taiwan, formerly part of the Asia
Pacific Theater, will now form a separate Greater China Theater. The
remaining countries in Asia Pacific will form the Asia Pacific Theater
and Cisco’s Japanese operations will continue as the Japan Theater.
The new Greater China Theater will be led by Owen Chan, President
and CEO, Greater China Theater, reporting to Robert Lloyd, Executive
Vice President, Worldwide Operations. Chan joined Cisco in 1999 and has
been President of Cisco’s Asia Pacific region for the past five
years. Under his leadership, the Asia Pacific region has been one of
Cisco’s most consistent and fastest growing regions. For his new role,
he will be relocating from Hong Kong to Beijing, China.
Jim Sherriff will continue in his role of developing and leading
Cisco’s cross-functional execution of the company’s overall China
strategy including government affairs, supply chain, product
development, corporate affairs, corporate development and strategic
alliances. As Chairman, Greater China Theater, Sherriff will continue
reporting to Executive Vice President of Operations, Processes, and
Systems Randy Pond and will continue to be based in Shanghai, China.
Thomas Lam will report to Sherriff as Vice Chairman and be responsible
for developing cross-functional strategies for Cisco’s Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR), corporate affairs and university relations in
Greater China.
In addition to his current responsibilities
leading Cisco Japan, Edzard Overbeek will assume leadership of the Asia
Pacific Theater. As President, Asia Pacific and Japan Theaters, he
will continue reporting to Robert Lloyd. Since taking on leadership of
Cisco’s Japan Theater three years ago, Overbeek has driven growth in an
extremely challenging economic environment, built strong relationships
with customers and partners, and developed a world-class leadership
team.
"Given the size and growth of the Chinese economy and our
significant commitments to our China business, we believe designating
Greater China as its own theater marks an important next step in our
strategy," said Lloyd. "Together, the Japan, Greater China and Asia
Pacific Theaters comprise approximately 15% of Cisco’s worldwide
revenue and, as home to some of the world’s most dynamic economies,
represent sizeable long term growth opportunities for Cisco. Under
Edzard, Owen, and Jim’s leadership, Cisco will be able to maximize
these opportunities by providing increased focus on our customer and
partner relationships in the region."
