Cisco has revamped its Asian operations to give a bigger role to its China businesses.
It has split off its China, Hong Kong and Taiwan operations to form a new greater China group, to be headed by Owen Chan, the current Asia-Pac chief.
The remaining countries in the Asia group – including Australia, Korea and ASEAN - will form the Asia Pacific group, while its Japanese operations will continue as a separate division.
The three groups account for 15% of Cisco’s global revenue, the company said.
Chan, who has been president of Cisco's Asia Pacific region for the past five years, will report to Robert Lloyd, executive vice president worldwide operations. He will relocate from Hong Kong to Beijing.
Jim Sherriff, the chairman of the new China group, will continue “developing and leading” Cisco's China strategy, the company said. Vice-chairman Thomas Lam will be responsible for CSR, corporate affairs and university relations.
Cisco Japan head Edzard Overbeek will take on the role of Asia Pacific chief as well.
Lloyd said that under the new structure, the vendor would be able to provide “increased focus on our customer and partner relationships in the region.”