BL 15 Sep 14
Aravind Sitaraman, President – Inclusive Growth, Cisco Systems, has ended his 18-year stint with Cisco and will leave the company on September 20.
Sitaraman said he plans to work with start-ups in Bangalore, Pune, Chennai and Hyderabad, and advise them on technology strategy.
“It is my fond hope that before I die, we can create the next Cisco, Microsoft, Facebook or Google out of India. I want to empower start-ups to be able to achieve technology excellence that can propel them into that space. I have been approached by start-ups across the country, who want me as their technology advisor and on their Board and I will be happy to start working with them,” Sitaraman toldBusinessLine.
He will also be working with universities in Bangalore and Pune to create entrepreneurs and successful start-ups. “I will be working with the universities to try to create a unique model of entrepreneurship in India,” he said.
A computer scientist with over 29 years of experience, Sitaraman was one of Cisco Systems’ leading inventors, with 57 patents. As the Managing Director of the Cisco Development Organisation, he managed the company’s R&D activities in India from 2007-09.
He sponsored the Innovation Hub to incubate new technologies and in 2009, started the Emerging Countries Solutions and Services Business Unit.
He led Cisco India’s CSR efforts and launched several successful programmes, including ‘Feed-a-Child’ and ‘Adopt-a-School.’ He rehabilitated tsunami victims in South India, helped flood relief efforts in Karnataka in 2009, and became the Executive Sponsor for Project Samudaya, a volunteer-led programme to rehabilitate villages through technology and build 3,323 homes, one hospital and two schools.
In October 2010, he was appointed President, Inclusive Growth. Recognising his social contribution, the Karnataka Government conferred on him its highest civilian decoration, the Rajyotsava Award, in 2012. Sitaraman led a team of 15-20 engineers and sales staff in his role as President, Inclusive Growth.
Asked if the inclusive business unit was being disbanded, given the company’s moves to restructure operations, he said: “Not at all. Inclusive Growth will be absorbed under a different business unit and will continue its good work.” However, Sitaraman declined to say which business unit.
During the company’s earnings call last month, John Chambers, CEO of Cisco Systems, announced that FY15 will see restructuring actions that will impact up to 6,000 employees or about 8 per cent of Cisco’s global workforce.
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