Blogger Biographies

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Cisco

John Chambers is Chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems. Since January 1995, when he assumed the role of CEO, Chambers has grown the company from US$1.2 billion in annual revenues to its current run-rate of approximately US$35 billion. In November 2006, he was named Chairman of the Board, in addition to his CEO role.

Chambers has been lauded by government leaders and countless publications worldwide for his visionary strategy, his ability to drive an entrepreneurial culture, and his warm-hearted, straight-talking approach.

He has received numerous awards for his leadership, including two-time winner of the “Best Investor Relations by a CEO” award by Barrons and IR Magazines, the Best CEO in America in the “Telecommunications, Data Networking” category by Institutional Investor magazine, and the 2005 International Partner award from the California Israel Chamber of Commerce, the Smithsonian Lifetime Achievement award, and the Presidential Award: Ron Brown Award for Corporate Leadership from the Business Council. He was also named “The Most Influential CEO” in telecommunications by Institutional Investor magazine and “The Most Influential Person in Communications” by Telecom Magazine. San Jose Magazine voted Chambers “Man of the Year” in 2005.

In addition to his business leadership, Chambers is active in philanthropic activities worldwide. In late 2006, in partnership with the U.S. State Department, Chambers co-led a delegation of U.S. business leaders to form the Partnership for Lebanon, helping provide critically needed resources for the ongoing reconstruction efforts in Lebanon. He has also accepted the prestigious Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for Cisco’s co-sponsorship of the Jordan Education Initiative, which Cisco has worked on in partnership with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan and the World Economic Forum. Additionally, Chambers has received the “Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship” from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution, and the Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy Award from the Committee to Encourage Corporate Philanthropy (CECP), an international forum of CEOs focused on corporate philanthropy. He has spearheaded several other key educational efforts, including the 21st Century Schools (21S) initiative, to improve education and opportunity for children in the Gulf Coast Region affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Chambers has served two American presidents; most recently as Vice Chairman of the President George W. Bush National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC), where he provided industry experience and leadership to help protect the United States’ critical infrastructure. He also served on President George W. Bush’s Transition Team and Education Committee, and previously served on President Bill Clinton’s Trade Policy Committee.

Chambers joined Cisco in 1991 as senior vice president, Worldwide Sales and Operations. He assumed the role of President and CEO in 1995. Prior to joining Cisco, he spent eight years at Wang Laboratories (1982-1990) and six years with IBM (1976-1982). He holds a law degree (1974) and a Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Arts degree (1971) in business from West Virginia University. Chambers later received a Masters of Business Administration degree in finance and management (1975) from Indiana University. He is married and has two adult children.