Javed Khan has departed as Cisco‘s SVP and GM of Collaboration, and Anurag Dhingra, Cisco Collaboration’s Chief Product and Technology Officer, has stepped into the role.
Khan, who had been at Cisco for nine years and head of Webex for four, has left Cisco to become President of an AI, mobility and connected edge business. The opportunity would allow Khan to follow his “passion for leveraging technology to create experiences that transform industries”, as he said on LinkedIn.
Khan posted on LinkedIn:
Today was the toughest All-Hands meeting I’ve had in my four-year tenure as the leader of Cisco Collaboration as I said goodbye to the hardest-working team in the business. No matter how big the challenge, this team always figured it out and got stuff done. Today, we have the best products in the business and the most advanced devices in the industry, a testament to our collective efforts and achievements.”
As the SVP, GM, and Chief Product and Technology Officer for Cisco Collaboration, Dhingra spearheads the global team responsible for the extensive Webex software suite, encompassing Meetings, Calling, Team Collaboration, and Contact Center solutions. Prior to this role, Dhingra was the Vice President of Webex Meetings, overseeing the delivery of the preeminent video conferencing platform.
“Javed, thank you for everything you’ve done for Cisco collaboration,” Dhingra commented on Khan’s LinkedIn post. “I’ve learnt a lot from you and it has been a pleasure to know you as a boss & friend. We will surely miss you. Good luck for your next adventure!”
Khan has been widely praised for his leadership in advancing Webex’s portfolio of products and services. He spearheaded the integration of AI and machine learning to enhance video and audio quality, introduced real-time translation and transcription, and added significant security enhancements.
Khan also expanded Webex’s ecosystem with third-party app integrations—most notably, Microsoft Teams—bolstered the user interface and launched Webex Suite, consolidating calling, messaging, meetings, and events into a unified platform. His focus on hybrid work solutions has been credited with positioning Webex as a versatile tool for diverse business needs.
“Javed has left a lasting impact on Webex – one of the most effective executives I have seen,” Analyst Dave Michels assessed on LinkedIn. “Fixed portfolio gaps, at least four acquisitions, and developed/promoted lots of staff. Perhaps the most significant was the pivot he executed regarding #MicrosoftTeams.”
As Michels alluded to, as well as his product contributions, Khan was also praised for the exec team he built around him, as emphasised by Jeetu Patel, EVP & GM of Security and Collaboration Business Units at Cisco, under Khan’s LinkedIn post: “We’re definitely going to miss you Javed Khan but thanks for building such a deep bench of leaders who will do you proud and I am confident the business won’t miss a beat.”
Cisco Appoints New Chief Executive for UK and Ireland
Earlier this week, Cisco appointed Sarah Walker, a former BT executive, as its new Chief Executive for the UK and Ireland.
Walker takes over from David Meads, who is transitioning to a role overseeing company operations in the Middle East and Africa. According to Cisco, Walker brings extensive experience in the technology and communications industry, with 25 years in various leadership positions across the public and private sectors.
“Sarah brings not only a proven track record in leveraging technology to solve problems and create value for organisations across the public and private sectors but also a wealth of energy and innovative thinking,” said Oliver Tuszik, President of Europe, Middle East and Africa at Cisco. “I could not be more confident in her ability to lead the Cisco team in the UK and Ireland to create an even greater impact through our solutions, benefiting our customers, partners and the community.”
