Cisco today announced a new leader for its UK and Ireland business. Sarah Walker will succeed David Meads as he transitions to lead the company’s operations in the Middle East and Africa.
Sarah has built a career in digital technology and communications, focussed on customer centricity and using technology to deliver outcomes aligned to business objectives. With early roles in mobile telephony, working her way up the technology stack, Sarah spent 25 years in BT in various senior leadership positions across both the public and private sector before joining Cisco two years ago to lead its Enterprise business in the UK and Ireland.
In her role leading Cisco’s Enterprise business, Sarah was responsible for the company’s relationships with more than a hundred large, private sector organisations across key sectors for the UK and Ireland – ranging from transport to pharmaceuticals and financial services.
Inextricably linked to her passion for helping customers, Sarah is actively involved in Cisco and wider communities with a focus on helping people prosper. She is the executive sponsor of Women of Cisco in the UK and Ireland, Non-Executive Director at Liverpool Women’s Hospital Trust and is the Chair of the Board of Trustees at Greater Manchester Academies Trust.
Sarah Walker commented: “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 added: “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.”
Nearly every Internet connection in the UK and Ireland touches Cisco. Its solutions help to securely connect organisations of all shapes and size. Through its Digital Impact Office, Cisco also provides digital skills training in over 300 Cisco Networking Academies across the UK & Ireland and has successfully supported hundreds of projects to help accelerate the nation’s digitisation through its Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) programme. From connecting remote communities, to better connecting and digitally skilling the national health service.
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4 Comments
Thanks for the article! Congrats on Sarah Walker for her appointment. I hope she takes steps into creating policies beneficial policies for both people and business like my own professional UK accountants business.
Congratulations Sarah, what an achievement. Your hard work and dedication has paid off. Enjoy your break with your family. I wish you all the success in the world!
Jac
What a fabulous appointment. As someone who has worked with Sarah at both BT and on the GMAT Board I could not be more chuffed for Sarah. You have an awesome one here Cisco 🙂