Cisco CEO Succession: Chambers To Depart, Robbins To Take The Helm While CEO John Chambers' retirement was thought to be imminent, it still took many people by surprise when it was announced May 4. Even more surprising was the revelation that Chuck Robbins, a 17-year Cisco veteran who ran the company's global sales and partner team, would become the networking giant's new CEO. The choice was popular among Cisco's legions of channel partners. But it also set in motion a number of changes in the company's executive ranks, including the departures of President and Chief Operating Officer Gary Moore and Rob Lloyd, president, development and sales -- both of whom had been seen as Chambers' possible successor. Robbins, planning a leaner, more agile management hierarchy, eliminated the president posts. Other executive departures followed in June. And Robbins named Chris Dedicoat as his replacement as head of worldwide sales.