‘Yes, I’m Leaving’: Cisco Systems Collaboration CTO To Depart

Cisco Systems is losing another of its most high-profile executives. This time, Jonathan Rosenberg, vice president and CTO of the firm's collaboration business, is headed for the door.

Rosenberg confirmed his impending departure in a tweet Tuesday, saying he'll explore new opportunities once the transition to new collaboration CTO Cullen Jennings is complete. “Yes, I’m leaving Cisco,” he said. “Will be exploring new opportunities once I’ve completed team transition.”

Yes, Im leaving Cisco. Will be exploring new opportunities once I've completed team transition. New CTO @cfluffy will focus on Horizon3 projects. My passion is on current product and vision.

— Jonathan Rosenberg (@jdrosen2) September 18, 2018

Rosenberg has been with Cisco since early 2013, when he joined as vice president and CTO of cloud collaboration. Rosenberg's title changed to vice president and CTO of collaboration later that year, according to his LinkedIn profile.

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As VP and CTO, Rosenberg is the face of Cisco's collaboration business, and responsible for the strategy and direction of its Webex, Jabber, and telepresence solutions, as well as Contact Center and UC Manager.

Last April, Rosenberg rolled out a new Webex Meetings application, as well as a new Webex Assistant and Webex Share device. At the same time, Cisco said it would do away with the standalone version of its Spark collaboration products and fold them into the Webex platform.

New collaboration CTO Cullen is a Cisco Fellow and has been with the company since late 2000.

"We have been transforming our collaboration business to deliver even greater value to our customers," a Cisco spokesperson said in a statement. "We have built great momentum and we appreciate all of those who have contributed to our success. We wish Jonathan all of the best and congratulate Cullen Jennings on his new role as CTO. Cullen's passion for industry-changing, globally impacting technology will serve Cisco well as our reach becomes even more pervasive across the globe."

Rosenberg's announcement follows closely behind another recent high-level departure. Chief Strategy Officer Hilton Romanski, another long-time Cisco leader, is also leaving the company, the networking giant said a little more than a week ago. Romanski has taken a position as partner and senior managing director at private equity firm Siris Capital. He's being replaced by Cisco corporate development exec Anuj Kapur.

Cisco Chairman and CEO Chuck Robbins has overseen a reshuffling of the executive deck since being elevated to the San Jose, Calif., firm's top position in 2015.

Robbins, as part of the announcement of Romanski's departure, detailed several other executive-level changes, including his chief of staff, Ruba Borno, becoming vice president and general manager of managed services under Maria Martinez, the company's new executive vice president and chief customer experience officer.

Robbins' new chief of staff is Cisco veteran Mark Patterson, who formerly led strategy, planning and operations for the company's global sales organization.

Among a couple of other changes, Robbins has also reorganized the company's corporate development, integration, and investments teams under CFO Kelly Kramer.

Channel Chief Wendy Bahr announced in mid-August that she intended to resign. The 18-year Cisco channel veteran has been senior vice president of the company's global partner organization since July 2015. She intends to stay on until a replacement is hired, the company said.