Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) announced that it has appointed Brenton Saunders to its board of directors, effective immediately.
Saunders is chairman, president, and CEO of Allergan plc.
Saunders, 47, has been a business leader for a long time. He has a long history of leadership, particularly in the healthcare industry.
Saunders was elected as chairman of Allergan in 2016. He has served as CEO and president since July 2014. Previously, he was CEO and President of Forest Laboratories from October 2013 until July 2014. He had served as a director of Forest beginning in 2011.
Additionally, Saunders served as CEO of global eye health company Bausch + Lomb from March 2010 until August 2013. He serves on the board of directors at RWJBarnabas Health and is a member of the Business Council and PhRMA.
Saunders “is a natural innovator and leader with a deep understanding of business transformation and I’m looking forward to his many contributions in shaping the future of Cisco,” Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins said in a statement.
The appointment of Saunders brings Cisco’s board to 12 members. The board now includes John T. Chambers, executive chairman of Cisco; Carol A. Bartz, former CEO of Yahoo!; M. Michele Burns, former chairman and CEO of Mercer LLC; Michael D. Capellas, founder and CEO of Capellas Strategic Partners; Amy L. Chang, founder and CEO of Accompany; Dr. John L. Hennessy, director of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program and former president of Stanford University; Dr. Kristina M. Johnson, CEO of Cube Hydro Partners; Roderick C. McGeary, former vice chairman of KPMG LLP; Robbins, CEO of Cisco; Arun Sarin, KBE, former CEO of Vodafone Group Plc; and Steven M. West, founder and partner of Emerging Company Partners.
“With his years at the helm of companies undergoing massive transformations, Brent has the vision and foresight needed to help Cisco realize the business potential of the biggest digital transition in history,” Cisco Executive Chairman John Chambers said.
