Cisco Executive and Leadership Team

September, 2026

Leadership Overview

Cisco has 10 executives leading key functions including strategic operations, information technology, partnership development, and engineering innovation.

Focused on global connectivity, Cisco delivers advanced networking solutions and Internet Protocol-based products to empower digital transformation across diverse industries and international markets.

Leadership Roles at Cisco

  • Chief Executive Officer (AFPAK) & Country General Manager - Kashif UlHaque
  • Chief of Staff - Jeffrey Kongs
  • Director, Chief of Staff for Vice President of Information Technology Operations - Jennifer Pavlick
  • Director and Chief of Staff To Senior Vice President Partnerships and Small and Medium Business - Anita Kotagiri
  • Manager, Business Operations & Chief Technology Officer, Cx Apjc Spo (Om Governance, PSM) - Shirl Kuo
  • Technical Leader & Chief Technology Officer, Engineering Team - Ibrahim Ayad
  • Supply Chain Chief of Staff - Sydney Van Dusen
  • Director and Chief Technology Officer -SP APJ -AI and Massive Scale DCs for AI, SP Technologies - Krishnaji Panse
  • Senior Director, Chief of Staff Supply Chain Operations - Lori Osterback-Boettner
  • Webscale Sales Chief of Staff - AnnMarie Link
  • Kashif UlHaque - Chief Executive Officer (AFPAK) & Country General Manager

    Kashif UlHaque, the Chief Executive Officer (AFPAK) & Country General Manager at Cisco, leads regional operations and market expansion efforts across the AFPAK territory. UlHaque directs the implementation of networking and collaboration solutions tailored to the specific requirements of this market. Kashif UlHaque manages local business development, ensuring that the company's portfolio of switching products and analytics software reaches key enterprise and government clients. By overseeing regional sales and service delivery, the Chief Executive Officer (AFPAK) & Country General Manager drives revenue growth and strengthens the company's presence in the region. This role involves building strategic alliances with local stakeholders and ensuring that regional operations align with global corporate standards. Through proactive leadership and market analysis, UlHaque ensures that the company provides reliable, high-performance communication technology that supports regional digital infrastructure development and long-term economic growth.

    Jeffrey Kongs - Chief of Staff

    Jeffrey Kongs, the Chief of Staff at Cisco, manages executive workflows and cross-functional alignment to ensure operational efficiency. Kongs coordinates high-level initiatives across the organization, facilitating communication between leadership teams to drive the development of Internet Protocol-based networking products. By streamlining internal processes, the Chief of Staff enables the company to maintain a competitive edge in the communications and information technology industry. Jeffrey Kongs monitors key performance indicators to support strategic decision-making, ensuring that resources align with long-term corporate objectives. This role requires constant collaboration with various departments to optimize resource allocation and project execution. Through rigorous oversight of administrative and strategic functions, Kongs fosters a culture of accountability and precision. The Chief of Staff remains focused on enhancing organizational agility, allowing the company to respond rapidly to shifting market demands while maintaining a strong focus on innovation and technical excellence.

    Jennifer Pavlick - Director, Chief of Staff for Vice President of Information Technology Operations

    Jennifer Pavlick, the Director, Chief of Staff for Vice President of Information Technology Operations at Cisco, oversees the strategic execution of IT infrastructure initiatives. Pavlick manages complex operational workflows, ensuring that the Vice President of Information Technology Operations receives actionable insights for data center product development and network security. Jennifer Pavlick coordinates with engineering teams to align technical roadmaps with the broader mission of delivering robust communication solutions. By managing the operational cadence of the IT division, the Director, Chief of Staff for Vice President of Information Technology Operations facilitates seamless integration of new software and hardware technologies. This position involves rigorous analysis of internal systems to improve efficiency and reduce latency in global networking applications. Through proactive management of departmental priorities, Pavlick ensures that the IT organization supports the company's commitment to high-performance connectivity and reliable data management across all enterprise platforms.

    Anita Kotagiri - Director and Chief of Staff To Senior Vice President Partnerships and Small and Medium Business

    Anita Kotagiri, the Director and Chief of Staff To Senior Vice President Partnerships and Small and Medium Business at Cisco, drives strategic growth within the SMB sector and manages critical partner ecosystems. Kotagiri coordinates cross-functional efforts to expand the reach of switching products and wireless access points to smaller enterprises. Anita Kotagiri facilitates communication between the Senior Vice President and external partners, ensuring that collaborative products like unified communications and conferencing tools meet specific market needs. By analyzing market trends and partner performance, the Director and Chief of Staff To Senior Vice President Partnerships and Small and Medium Business optimizes go-to-market strategies. This role involves building strong relationships with distributors and resellers to enhance the company's footprint in the global marketplace. Through meticulous planning and execution, Kotagiri ensures that partnership initiatives align with the company's overarching goal of providing scalable, secure networking solutions to businesses of all sizes.

    Shirl Kuo - Manager, Business Operations & Chief Technology Officer, Cx Apjc Spo (Om Governance, PSM)

    Shirl Kuo, the Manager, Business Operations & Chief Technology Officer, Cx Apjc Spo (Om Governance, PSM) at Cisco, directs operational governance and technical strategy for the Asia-Pacific, Japan, and China regions. Kuo oversees the implementation of business processes that support the deployment of advanced analytics software and Internet of Things solutions. Shirl Kuo manages the technical architecture for regional service provider operations, ensuring that infrastructure designs meet the rigorous demands of modern data applications. By integrating governance frameworks with technical innovation, the Manager, Business Operations & Chief Technology Officer, Cx Apjc Spo (Om Governance, PSM) enhances service delivery and operational reliability. This role involves close coordination with regional engineering teams to scale networking capabilities and improve customer experience. Through strategic oversight of business operations, Kuo ensures that regional initiatives contribute directly to the company's global success in the communications and information technology sector.

    Ibrahim Ayad - Technical Leader & Chief Technology Officer, Engineering Team

    Ibrahim Ayad, the Technical Leader & Chief Technology Officer, Engineering Team at Cisco, architects the next generation of networking hardware and software solutions. Ayad guides the engineering team in developing high-performance switching products and data center technologies that form the backbone of modern communications. Ibrahim Ayad evaluates emerging technologies to ensure the company remains at the forefront of the information technology industry. By fostering a culture of technical excellence, the Technical Leader & Chief Technology Officer, Engineering Team drives the creation of scalable, secure, and efficient networking architectures. This role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams to translate complex technical requirements into market-leading products. Through rigorous research and development, Ayad ensures that engineering outputs align with the company's mission to connect the world. The focus remains on delivering innovative solutions that address the evolving needs of global enterprises, service providers, and data centers.

    Sydney Van Dusen - Supply Chain Chief of Staff

    Sydney Van Dusen, the Supply Chain Chief of Staff at Cisco, manages the operational efficiency of the global supply chain network. Van Dusen coordinates logistics and procurement strategies to ensure the timely delivery of networking hardware and components. Sydney Van Dusen monitors supply chain performance metrics, identifying opportunities to optimize manufacturing processes and reduce lead times for data center products. By facilitating communication between procurement, manufacturing, and distribution teams, the Supply Chain Chief of Staff ensures that the company maintains a resilient and responsive supply chain. This role involves managing complex vendor relationships and implementing lean methodologies to improve cost-effectiveness. Through strategic oversight of supply chain operations, Van Dusen supports the company's ability to meet global demand for communication technology. The focus remains on maintaining high standards of quality and reliability while navigating the complexities of international logistics and manufacturing environments.

    Krishnaji Panse - Director and Chief Technology Officer -SP APJ -AI and Massive Scale DCs for AI, SP Technologies

    Krishnaji Panse, the Director and Chief Technology Officer -SP APJ -AI and Massive Scale DCs for AI, SP Technologies at Cisco, spearheads the development of AI-driven networking solutions for service providers in the Asia-Pacific and Japan regions. Panse designs massive-scale data center architectures that support the intensive computational requirements of artificial intelligence applications. Krishnaji Panse collaborates with engineering and product teams to integrate advanced AI capabilities into the company's switching and routing platforms. By focusing on the intersection of AI and networking, the Director and Chief Technology Officer -SP APJ -AI and Massive Scale DCs for AI, SP Technologies ensures that the company provides the infrastructure necessary for the next wave of digital innovation. This role involves technical leadership in defining roadmaps for high-capacity data centers and service provider technologies. Through strategic innovation, Panse enables clients to leverage AI for improved performance, scalability, and operational efficiency.
    Krishnaji Panse

    Lori Osterback-Boettner - Senior Director, Chief of Staff Supply Chain Operations

    Lori Osterback-Boettner, the Senior Director, Chief of Staff Supply Chain Operations at Cisco, oversees the strategic planning and execution of global supply chain initiatives. Osterback-Boettner manages the operational cadence of the supply chain division, ensuring that manufacturing and distribution processes align with corporate goals. Lori Osterback-Boettner coordinates with cross-functional leaders to optimize inventory management and logistics for networking products. By analyzing supply chain data, the Senior Director, Chief of Staff Supply Chain Operations identifies areas for process improvement and cost reduction. This role involves managing complex projects that enhance the agility and resilience of the company's global supply network. Through rigorous oversight and strategic planning, Osterback-Boettner ensures that the supply chain remains a competitive advantage, supporting the company's ability to deliver high-quality communication and information technology products to customers worldwide while maintaining operational excellence.
    AnnMarie Link, the Webscale Sales Chief of Staff at Cisco, manages the operational and strategic functions of the webscale sales organization. Link coordinates sales initiatives and business development efforts focused on large-scale cloud and internet service providers. AnnMarie Link facilitates communication between sales leadership and engineering teams to ensure that product offerings meet the specific needs of webscale customers. By streamlining sales processes and analyzing market performance, the Webscale Sales Chief of Staff enables the team to effectively position the company's data center and networking solutions. This role involves managing internal workflows to support rapid growth and customer acquisition in the competitive webscale market. Through proactive management and strategic alignment, Link ensures that the sales organization remains focused on delivering value and driving revenue growth, ultimately supporting the company's mission to provide the infrastructure for the modern internet.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Cisco Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Cisco?
    Cisco is led by Kashif UlHaque (Chief Executive Officer (AFPAK) & Country General Manager), along with executives such as Jeffrey Kongs (Chief of Staff) and Jennifer Pavlick (Director, Chief of Staff for Vice President of Information Technology Operations).
    Who is part of Cisco’s executive team?
    The executive team of Cisco includes leaders such as Kashif UlHaque (Chief Executive Officer (AFPAK) & Country General Manager), Jeffrey Kongs (Chief of Staff), Jennifer Pavlick (Director, Chief of Staff for Vice President of Information Technology Operations) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Cisco have?
    Cisco has 10 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Cisco’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Cisco includes roles such as Chief Executive Officer (AFPAK) & Country General Manager, Chief of Staff, Director, Chief of Staff for Vice President of Information Technology Operations, Director and Chief of Staff To Senior Vice President Partnerships and Small and Medium Business, Manager, Business Operations & Chief Technology Officer, Cx Apjc Spo (Om Governance, PSM).