Cisco Systems late last week announced that Selby Wellman, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco's Interworks business unit, is leaving the company on August 1.
Wellman's departure is due to personal, family and part-time outside business interests, Cisco stated. The company did not announce a replacement for Wellman, who is also Cisco's site executive for its Research Triangle Park campus.
During Wellman's five-year tenure, Cisco outmanoeuvred IBM to become the leading vendor of products that connect IBM SNA networks to IP networks, including the internet. Cisco says it holds an 80 per cent share of this market.
IBM subsequently sold its switching and routing assets to Cisco and entered into an agreement with the company to service Cisco accounts. Cisco, meanwhile, agreed to buy parts and components from IBM for five years under the $2 billion deal.
Cisco also credits Wellman with attracting 2,500 employees to Cisco's RTP site from its groundbreaking in 1995.
"I am personally very sorry to see Selby leave Cisco," president and CEO John Chambers said in a statement. "He has, however, built a very talented team of executives who will continue to work closely with IBM and to lead Cisco to be among the most influential companies in history."
Wellman had over 25 years experience with FiberCom, Paradyne and IBM prior to joining Cisco.