Cisco is set to announce a major reshuffle of its top UK management line-up that will see the departure of country boss Duncan Mitchell and a change in roles for long-standing channel chief John Donovan.

Mitchell has accepted a position within Cisco’s Emerging Markets Theatre. He will be replaced by Phil Smith, who is currently vice president of technology and corporate marketing.

The changes, outlined in a leaked email, will be effective as of the start of Cisco’s financial year, on 1 August.

Change is also afoot within Cisco’s channel team, with UK and Ireland channels managing director Donovan stepping across to direct sales to take leadership of the UK Enterprise & Mid-Market team.

Donovan has headed Cisco’s channel team for five-and-a-half years.

Cisco has not yet announced a direct replacement for Donovan, but it is understood current head of SMB at Cisco UK and Ireland, Bernadette Wightman, may be given a wider channel brief following his departure.