Cisco channel mogul - Chuck Robbins, promoted to lead Cisco direct-touch sales team

By Brad Reese on Fri, 12/07/07 - 10:43am.

CMP Channel is reporting that Chuck Robbins - group vice president of U.S. and Canada channels for Cisco, has been promoted to senior vice president of Cisco's U.S. commercial business, where he will oversee the 1,300-member Cisco direct-touch sales team that calls on customers with fewer than 1,500 employees.

"I think what I can bring is a full view of how we can accomplish goals in the commercial segment by including the partners in ways others may not think of because I do know them and I know how we operate and I know our systems and programs and all of those things," said Robbins.

One example Robbins gave is that Cisco could better leverage its channel partners to tackle upgrade opportunities within the installed base rather than relying on its sales force to work up proposals with partners.

Find it curious that Keith Goodwin - Cisco senior vice president of worldwide channels did not have an immediate replacement for Robbins.

After all, Goodwin is now helping Cisco channel partners address the IT talent shortage.

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