Cisco CMO Moves to Intel

Intel’s Karen Walker

Just prior to reaching her 11-year mark at Cisco, Karen Walker, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, is moving on. Walker will be joining Intel as senior vice president and chief marketing officer beginning Oct. 23.

In an Executive Platform blog, last July, Gerri Elliott, executive vice president and chief sales and marketing officer, wrote that Walker had announced she’d be moving on. At the same time, Cisco announced that Jim Walsh, who had been leading Cisco’s global sales segments and industries team and initiatives, was appointed senior vice president, growth marketing, a new position at Cisco.

The timing of Walker’s departure coincides with big changes taking place in Cisco’s sales and marketing organization, most recently the formation of a newly formed sales and marketing organization last year, led by new hire Elliott, executive vice president and chief sales and marketing officer. Boon Lai, vice president, global partner marketing at Cisco also seems to have a more visibly public role. Lai has been with Cisco for less than three years.

“Karen is a truly world-class CMO,” said Bob Swan, Intel’s CEO. “She has deep experience with many of our most valued customers and a keen understanding of what it will take to play an even larger role in their success. We are excited to have Karen on our leadership role.”

In her role at Cisco, Walker and her team are responsible for building and strengthening Cisco’s brand, supporting growth strategies, cultivating opportunities in new and existing markets, and increasing demand for Cisco’s solutions globally.

Prior to her time at Cisco, Walker spent eight years at Hewlett-Packard in several marketing roles.

At Intel, Walker will take charge of the company’s global marketing group. She’ll be responsible for building and strengthening Intel’s brand, supporting growth strategies, cultivating opportunities in new and existing markets, and increasing demand for Intel’s products and solutions globally.

“Intel is an iconic company at a pivotal moment as it transforms to power a world of new possibilities and expanded market opportunities,” Walker said. “It is one of the most globally recognized brands with a strong story to tell. I look forward to joining a great team and building the future of technology together.”

Like many businesses, Intel is undergoing a transformation of its own, moving beyond its semiconductor roots into the data center, IoT and AI.