John Chambers, 12/27/99

The 25 most powerful people in networking

John Chambers, president and CEO,
Cisco

J. Chambers

Have any doubts about the potential of the Internet? Spend a few minutes with "The Reverend" John Chambers, and you'll be banking your business future on the 'Net in no time.

Chambers is the 'Net's most zealous evangelist - and for good reason. Cisco has grown from a $1.2 billion company back when the Internet transitioned from a research-oriented network to a commercial enterprise in 1995, to a company with a $16 billion run rate today. And Cisco conducts 80% of its business over the 'Net.

Coincidentally, 1995 is also when Chambers assumed command of Cisco. But only cynics would say Chambers' exuberance for the 'Net stems entirely from Cisco's explosive growth. Listen to The Reverend during one of his many keynote speeches each year or even during a Cisco earnings conference call with analysts, and you'll realize that the Internet is bigger than Cisco or its competitors or the industry as a whole.

The 'Net is the anatomy of the world economy - its skeletal, muscular, nervous and circulatory systems. And no company benefits more from that than Cisco.

Under Chambers, Cisco has become the fastest-growing company in the history of the computing industry and one of the most admired companies in the world. It is also one of the most valuable, with a market capitalization closing in on $300 billion.

As a result, Chambers is considered one of the most innovative and dynamic leaders in global business today. In 1999, BusinessWeek named Chambers "Mr. Internet" and one of the top 25 executives worldwide. Worth named him the No. 2 CEO in America. ABC's "20/20" spotlighted Chambers as "The Best Boss in America," and Time Digital placed Chambers among the 10 most influential leaders shaping technology today. Even Bill Clinton and Al Gore described Chambers as "a true leader in this industry, in America's economy and in the global economy."

Related links

More information on John Chambers from Cisco's Web site

Government gives green light to Cisco's buyout of IBM net biz
Network World, 12/13/99

Around the network world with John Chambers
In an interview, Cisco's CEO says the high-growth enterprise network market will rise again; applauds the government's Internet savvy. Network World, 12/06/99

Chambers: Economy moving at Internet speed
Network World, 04/15/99

Can Cisco keep up its torrid pace?
Network World, 02/15/99

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