Cisco: Goodwin exit a loss for us all

Networking giant unveils Bruce Klein as its new channel boss as Keith Goodwin calls it a day

Cisco's long-reigning channel supremo Keith Goodwin is retiring after 38 years in the IT industry, the networking giant has confirmed.

After seven years heading up Cisco's Worldwide Partner Organisation, Goodwin is passing the reins to another of the vendor's senior vice presidents, Bruce Klein. Cisco executive vice president of worldwide operations Rob Lloyd described his departure as a "loss for us all".

Lloyd, who will take the tiller at the start of Cisco's fiscal first quarter starting 1 August, was most recently senior vice president for Cisco's US public sector business. His 30-year career in the IT industry also includes stints at HP and Unisys.

The partner team of Edison Peres, Wendy Bahr, Andrew Sage, John Donovan and Chris Treille will report to Klein in his new role.

Lloyd said: "Keith and his team have evolved WWPO from a primary focus on our channel resale partners to a broader scope that includes the global partner-led sales model and the partner ecosystem to support our architectures, solutions and the consumption of IT as a service."

"[Klein's] extensive industry experience and transformative view of Cisco's business will help us continue the trajectory that Keith and the WWPO leadership team currently have in place."