Thread regarding Cisco Systems Inc. layoffs

Chuck and EVP Team... A Case study in why RSU's are terrbile when you have a mediocre CEO

From Chuck's perspective, he personally makes $500 Million+ over 10 years without the added stress of creating shareholder value because of the RSU's. He just needed a few things 1) Mckinsey/Consultants to tell him what he needs to know, sound bites, software/whole offers, etc. that he can feed the investment community and employees 2) EVP leadership team that is not a threat (cannot have a Bates, Giancarlo, Jayshree, MPLS, would challenge too much and no need for Chuck). We also ended up with a weak EVP team that would be lucky to be VP's elsewhere. The EVP's have a goal, if I can stay 10 years, I'll make $200 Million personally.. They need talking points too, and need to ensure SVP's under them that are not a threat. Overall, there's no vision, depth or substance by this EVP team, but they get their big payday regardless of performance.

Last 5 years
Cisco Market Cap -$40B, Arista +$80B, HPE +$12B, JNPR +$3B

If the EVP team was not given RSUs but performance stock options, they might have tried to increase shareholder value vs. destroy it. (or not taken the job to begin with, because they would not get paid)

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Post ID: @OP+1t1lYkje

14 replies (most recent on top)

totally hear you on inflation - but also don't forget the 3% dividend every year - that eats up most of it. Again - not trying to say he's the greatest or anything. But i just think old JC escapes way too much blame for the bad times and gets WAY to much credit for the good times. Cisco was on the decline way before CR took over. but just my opinion. Maybe the Splunk guy will be better? If indeed he is the next in line, idk.

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Post ID: @yxa+1t1lYkje

You've nailed the mindset of the people holding senior leadership positions at Cisco. To top it off, none of them provide any actual technical leadership. ELT meetings are dominated by bobbleheads playing buzzword bingo.

Chuck's getting ready to pull the ripcord and retire with the hundreds of millions of dollars he was paid to slow Cisco's decline as much as possible. He never really made an effort to create a new wave of growth. Gary Steele is looking under the covers right now, shaking his head, and thinking, "I'm glad I made so much money being acquired by Cisco. It'll make the next few years of pain in the CEO job worth it before I follow Chuck out the door."

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Post ID: @spa+1t1lYkje

"The stock was in the low $30s when he took over."

Take into consideration inflation. The stock market was artificially inflated by nearly 0% interest rates. Americans only way to save/beat inflation was to put their money blindly into index funds.

The stock price was $32 in 2007 and $45 in 2024.

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Post ID: @muz+1t1lYkje

Cisco has a weak board that must be replaced by activist investors that would put an end to Robbins ripping off stockholders and employees

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Post ID: @ytv+1t1lYkje

CORRECTION, the share price was in the high $20s - just saying - he's not perfect, but you guys forget how far it had already fallen thanks to the dear leader's stupidity.

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Post ID: @dzx+1t1lYkje

The stock was in the low $30s when he took over.

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Post ID: @jqa+1t1lYkje

Maybe the employee share holders need to show up to the board meetings and vote down on this ELT’s pay package approvals.

If nothing else at least demonstrate the lack of confidence and belief in their continued ‘leadership’.

And as someone else mentioned ask the tough question about why they don’t get options instead of RSUs and have a few thousand ppl like that question.

They are always willing to pass the ‘layoff buck’ every year - they should hear/read the voice of no confidence at the beat.

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Post ID: @cfh+1t1lYkje

It was good for Chuck since he sold CSCO at 46.1. Today CSCO was at 45.52. We all witness the great leadership Cisco got! This is the time that everyone is for himself.

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Post ID: @fmj+1t1lYkje

No that’s not important I much prefer the ELT telling me all about their travels around the globe, whilst I struggle to get a 50 mile trip to see a customer approved.

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Post ID: @ank+1t1lYkje

The drop in market cap is embarrassing. We all need to bring it up in the next Beat. How long can this farce drag on?

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Post ID: @iyn+1t1lYkje

Someone should ask this question to him during next all hands. It's past tax season in the US. Is he buying a new mansion or is he preparing for the decline?

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Post ID: @iih+1t1lYkje

Also of note from the link below…
Over the past year, Charles Robbins has sold a total of 354,097 shares of Cisco Systems Inc and has not made any purchases of the stock. This recent sale is part of a broader trend observed within the company, where there have been 38 insider sells and no insider buys over the past year.

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Post ID: @eit+1t1lYkje

Cisco was already in a managed decline when he started. He was hired to cut costs and convince teacher pension funds to buy Cisco stock.

Think of Cisco like Xerox or Kodak... the gravy train ended in 2003

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Post ID: @kst+1t1lYkje

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/insider-sale-charles-robbins-sells-230048061.html

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Post ID: @gat+1t1lYkje

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