Cisco president in India & SAARC quits

Nareshchandra Laishram and Shubendu Parth

NEW DELHI:After serving three years as the India and SAARC region President of Cisco Systems, Manoj Chugh has decided to quit Cisco. According to sources, Owen Chan, VP–Asia Operations, Cisco Systems, has already taken over the overall responsibility for India and South Asia and would continue till a new president is appointed. Cisco Systems is the world’s largest Internet gear maker.

Confirming the report, the man who had led the company to achieve the highest ever market share for its India operations in 2002-03, said that his decision to quit Cisco was purely personal. 'Cisco’s market share in the country is at the all time high. Having delivered what I perceived was more of my personal goal–working at a scorching pace for three years, not being able to spend enough quality time with my family–I think it’s the right time for me to sit back and introspect,' he said.

'At 43, after leading a team of dedicated people who helped me achieve my dream target, I have decided to quit and review my work and plan my future career move,' Chugh stressed, adding that the sabbatical would also help him fulfill his responsibilities towards the family and he would have the luxury of spending more time with them.

Chugh also said that while he is evaluating different options, he has not yet decided on his next assignment. 'I’m yet to make up my mind,' he said adding that, 'I am speaking to my friends and well wishers to gauge the opportunities.'

In India, Cisco Systems is a V&D 100 company, with the largest dominant market share in major networking segments such as routers and LAN switches. In its latest eighth National Telecom Survey Report released in June 2003, Voice & Data magazine has ranked Cisco Systems as India’s fifth largest communications equipment provider.

Chugh had joined Cisco Systems in May 2000, coming from a relatively smaller company called VSAT and satellite equipment provider Scientific Atlanta, where he was Country Manager for India. During his three-year term in Cisco, Chugh was able to grow the networking company from a Rs 360 crore (India revenue for fiscal 1999-2000) company to one of the largest equipment providers in India, with an annual India revenue of Rs 1109 crore during fiscal 2002-03. It was also during his presidency, that Cisco Systems was able to make a mark in India for not only selling routers and LAN switches, but scoring successes in new technology areas such as IP telephony, contact center solutions and wireless LAN.

(CNS)