At Cisco, we are consistently focused on delivering the best results for our customers and partners, while also working to power an inclusive future for all. To achieve this, it is essential that we have the absolute best leaders to help us reach our goals. I am thrilled to share that Maria Poveromo will join Cisco’s Executive Leadership Team as our Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, leading our amazing Global Communications team to shape and amplify Cisco’s story both internally and externally across the world.
This past year we navigated so many new challenges, and our Global Communications team found new and creative ways to share information and connect with our teams, our customers, industry influencers, and our communities. With Maria’s leadership, we will continue to push new boundaries, innovate with our storytelling, and rethink what is possible across all communications channels.
Maria joined Cisco in 2019 to run our International Communications team across more than 60 countries. Prior to Cisco, Maria held communications leadership roles at numerous technology companies as well as non-profit organizations in Silicon Valley and in Europe. She also spent 18 years at Adobe, where she ultimately led the communications efforts as the business transformed to the cloud and grew from 2,000 employees to 20,000. Maria then took on the role of Vice President at IBM where she worked to elevate IBM’s presence.
In addition to her communications expertise, Maria also represents the very best of Cisco culture with her passion for community and giving back. She has served on the Board of Second Harvest and was most recently honored by the YWCA.
I look forward to the incredible talent and heart Maria will bring to this role, and I am excited to see her take us to new heights to deliver the best results for our customers, our teams, and our communities around the world.
Corporate Communications is a key area where Cisco has a long history of ‘commercial storytelling’ accomplishments.
Cisco is often referred to as a ‘bellwether’ stock, meaning it’s a leading indicator of the direction of the economy, or of a sector of the market, or the market as a whole. How did Cisco achieve that eminence with a remarkable internet-enabled worldview? It was partly via commercial storytelling. The core principle is not to focus on ‘what you make’ (products or services) but instead, focus on ‘what you make possible’ (business outcomes) for your customers.