Cisco has promoted David Meads to the role of Cisco’s vice-president for Africa, responsible for the sales operations and go-to-market model across the continent.
Sabrina Dar becomes GM: sales for East Africa (including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia) and Dare Ogunlade becomes GM: sales for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Meads has 29 years of experience in the IT industry. He has successfully established and grown large sales operations through his determination to drive change and by leading dynamic teams, both at Cisco and Siemens. His transition to vice-president follows a one-year tenure as MD: Africa Emerging Theatre at Cisco, as well as more than two and a half years as MD of Cisco in South Africa.
He has travelled extensively throughout Africa, re-establishing and strengthening the foundations of Cisco’s growth. He has already successfully represented Cisco at a number of high profile external events including the most recent WEF Africa 2013, The Economist Nigeria Summit, AfricaCom and Cisco Expo 2013 South Africa, ensuring that Cisco builds strong relationships with strategic government and business leaders.
Newly appointed GM for Cisco in East Africa, Sabrina Dar will report directly to Meads. With more than 10 years’ experience in finance, strategy, marketing and sales with Cisco, Sabrina has worked in Cisco’s Emerging Theatre Partner Organisation, driving partner preference programmes, and was also the marketing lead for Cisco’s London 2012 Olympics sponsorship.
She has also held the role of UK and Ireland Enterprise & Commercial Market Manager and helped to develop the business case for, and deliver, a new partner go-to-market.
Dare Ogunlade, the newly appointed GM for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, will also report directly to Meads. Dare, based in Lagos, joined Cisco Nigeria in October 2006 as an Account Manager for Service Provider, moving on to become MTN Strategic Account leader for Nigeria and Ghana in 2011.
He is vastly experienced in structuring complex deals and therefore brings the wealth of knowledge and expertise required to accelerate the growth in the Nigeria region.
Meads comments: “My key objective is to drive Cisco’s strategy to support African country innovation, prosperity, sustainability, and social inclusion through the build out of life-changing networks. Ultimately, Cisco wants to enable customers, nations and organisations in Africa to be more productive and competitive, through the adoption and use of technology.
“I am confident that with our new leadership in East and West Africa we will be able to make a significant contribution to the continent of Africa – with broadband as a platform for socio and economic transformation, harnessing the network to improve lives, empower citizens and make businesses more competitive.”