Cisco strengthens Africa leadership team to accelerate growth and focus

Recently Promoted Vice President for Africa Hires Two New Regional General Managers

Cisco announced today the recent promotion of David Meads to the role of Cisco’s Vice President (VP) for Africa, responsible for the sales operations and go-to-market model across the continent. Sabrina Dar becomes General Manager, Sales for East Africa (including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia) and Dare Ogunlade becomes General Manager, Sales for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Support for African Governments’ Country Transformation Agendas

As Cisco’s VP for Africa, Meads is focused on how information technology can help to increase the productivity and competitiveness of organisations and nations, to ultimately support Governments’ country transformation agendas.

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. Meads’ transition to Vice President follows a one year tenure as Managing Director, Africa Emerging Theatre at Cisco, as well as more than two and a half years as Managing Director for 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.

Capturing the Growing Opportunities in East Africa

Newly appointed General Manager, 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.

Sabrina’s tenacity, commitment and positive impact on the Cisco business was recognised externally in May 2011, as Asian Women of the Year Achievement Award Business Leader within the UK. For her new role, Sabrina will be relocating to Nairobi, where she has extended family and will reconnect with her Kenyan roots.

Taking Cisco’s Business in Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone to the Next Level

Dare Ogunlade, the newly appointed General Manager 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.

Career opportunities and employee growth are very important to Dare, as he attributes his own personal career growth at Cisco to the strong mentoring that he has benefited from over the years. One of his objectives is to ensure that the Nigerian team members have the same opportunity to fulfill their career aspirations. Dare holds a degree in Electrical Engineering and also an MBA from Lagos Business School.