Sarah Walker has been named the new CEO of Cisco UK and Ireland, taking over from David Meads, who will now oversee the company’s operations in the Middle East and Africa. Walker brings extensive experience in digital technology and communications to her new role, having spent 25 years at BT where she held several senior leadership positions.
She joined Cisco two years ago to lead its Enterprise business in the UK and Ireland and was responsible for the company’s relationships with more than 100 large, private sector organisations across key sectors – ranging from transport to pharmaceuticals and financial services.
The new CEO serves as the executive sponsor for Women of Cisco in the UK and Ireland, holds a non-executive director position at Liverpool Women’s Hospital Trust, and chairs the Board of Trustees at Greater Manchester Academies Trust.
Sarah Walker said, “I am delighted to be stepping in to this role at such an important juncture for the nation, the technology industry and for our customers. AI is creating even clearer lines between the outcomes that technology can support, the strategic objectives of organisations and the needs of society. The way we utilise and build for AI now, will shape the next decade and I truly believe that no one is better placed than Cisco to ensure that we do so securely and responsibly.”
She added, “We have some of the best technology minds in our community of over 4,000 partner organisations, over 200 universities and colleges and over 500,000 Cisco Networking Academy students; what we are able to do together is unmatched.”
Oliver Tuszik, President, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Cisco, said, “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. 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.”
In the UK and Ireland, Cisco plays a crucial role in connecting nearly every Internet service. Their solutions ensure secure connectivity for organizations of all sizes. Through the Digital Impact Office, Cisco offers digital skills training at more than 300 Cisco Networking Academies throughout the region. Additionally, their Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program has been instrumental in advancing digital transformation by supporting numerous projects across the UK and Ireland.