????羅賓斯為何能勝出

????思科花了16個月時間來挑選CEO。盡管錢伯斯說過程以及候選人均為機密，不能透露詳細情況，但他還是解釋了羅賓斯為何成為最終人選。錢伯斯說，羅賓斯脫穎而出主要因為過去10個月表現優異。“查克做得最好的就是，讓我們看到了CEO應有的質素?！卞X伯斯再次提到，“眼光”、“韜略”和“執行”是成功的關鍵標志。錢伯斯自謙地說：“我更側重直接命令和控制，告訴別人要怎樣做?！彼J為羅賓斯能很好地協調各種復雜解決方案，“他能把工作進程變為決策的一部分”。

????錢伯斯還說：“羅賓斯將帶來思科需要的改變?！?/p>

????那么，哪些方面可能發生改變？思科已經給出了一些提示。盡管在發展過程中思科收購過許多公司，但沒有一家能取代其核心業務，即網絡設備和交換機。有人認為，新CEO將著手調整思科的工作重心。一位分析師在接受路透社采訪時表示：“如果之前的CEO喜歡收購，繼任者一般會收斂些，重新調整發展重心。我認為思科更換CEO后就是這種變化?！?/p>

????不容忽視的是，錢伯斯反復強調“執行”是羅賓斯的主要特點。這個詞不僅意味著完成工作的能力，對某些人來說，還意味著裁員。思科最新公布的業績超過了預期，但同時宣布裁員數千人。這位新CEO很可能會按計劃瞄準某些業務領域，卸下無謂的負擔。這與分析師的預期也符合。

????羅賓斯并未透露目前的工作重點，但從他以往的表現可見端倪。據思科的簡歷介紹，他是“促成思科收購Sourcefire和Meraki”的關鍵人物。這兩項業務分屬安全和協作范疇，或許表明思科有意在相關領域發力。

????送別錢伯斯

????雖然錢伯斯對思科長達幾十年的掌控已進入尾聲，但他并未顯得感傷，至少從他的語氣中聽不出來。65歲的錢伯斯仍然強調重視科技創新蘊含的機會。他重復了發布會一開始說的話：“當下的數字革命有可能讓思科再現上世紀90年代的輝煌?！比缓螅X伯斯轉向自己的繼任者說道：“查克，你會成為一個偉大的領導者，我很高興能當你的領路人。”

????隨后，他又像一位長者那樣敦促道：“把思科變為最好的IT公司吧。”

????羅賓斯溫和地回答說：“約翰，我也想對你表示感謝。你讓思科成為歷史上最成功、最令人羨慕的企業之一。說實話，我的目標就是讓思科的下一個10年比過去20年更強?！保ㄘ敻恢形木W）

????譯者：Charlie

????審校：夏林

????Why Robbins won out

????Cisco’s CEO selection process took 16 months. Though Chambers would not reveal details, citing the process and candidates as confidential, he did let on as to why Robbins was named the victor. In the last 10 months in particular, he says, Robbins pulled away from the pack. “What Chuck did so well was demonstrate the character you want out of your CEO.” Chambers again held up “vision,” “strategy,” and execution,” as key markers of success. “I tend to be more command and control, telling people to make it so” Chambers says with a touch of self-deprecation. Robbins, on the other hand, “makes the process part of his decision,” he says, mentioning his successor’s ability to coordinate complex solutions.

????Chambers adds: “He’ll make the changes that need to be made.”

????What might those changes be? There are hints. Despite acquiring many businesses over the course of its history, Cisco has never quite found one to replace its core moneymaker: networking and switching. Some believe the new CEO will set out to adjust the company’s prioritize. “In many cases where the CEO has been very acquisitive, the next guy pares down and refocuses the company,” an analyst tells Reuters, “and that is what I would be expecting with this change.”

????Indeed, one cannot ignore how Chambers touts “execution” as Robbin’s premier trait. It’s a term that connotes not only an ability to produce, but also, to some ears, an axe. In its last earnings call, the company beat expectations, but announced that it would be slashing thousands of jobs. Perhaps one can expect the new CEO similarly to hone in on certain areas and cut the deadweight. That would would fit the analyst’s thesis.

????Robbins says he’s not sure what he’ll prioritize just yet. But his track record provides some clues. He was integral, according to his company biography, as “a key sponsor for the Sourcefire and Meraki acquisitions.” Those business, in the security and collaboration spaces, respectively, may signal enticing areas of growth for the equipment maker.

????Sendoff

????As his decades-long reign enters its twilight days, Chambers is not a trace of wistful, at least as far as his tone of voice is concerned. At age 65, he is just as emphatic as ever about the opportunities presented by technological innovation. “We’re about to have a chance to have a repeat of the ’90s with the digital revolution that is occurring,” he says, harkening back to the comment made at the beginning of the call. He then turns his attention to his heir. “Chuck, you’re going be a great leader here,” he says. “I couldn’t be more excited to be your coach.”

????With that, he adds an avuncular exhortation: “Take us to the number one IT company.”

????Robbins replies in kind. “John, I also want to thank you,” he says. “You built this into one of the most successful and admired companies in history at one point.”

????He adds: “My goal, candidly, is to make the next decade better than the last two.”