Cisco saw Morgan Mann step down from his VP role overseeing network systems, optics, and silicon.

In a LinkedIn post, Mann wrote that after 20-plus years, "I've decided it's time to turn the page and start a new chapter. It’s been a great ride with a great company where I've had the chance to work alongside amazing people and work on the leading edge of multiple technology waves."

Mann added he would be "staying close to tech" while carrying out advisory work. Outside of Cisco, the exec is a partner on the Oregon Venture Fund.

Mann's Cisco career began after directing sales and product management for Sphere Communications. He joined Cisco in 2003 as a channel manager, with his first stint ending in 2010 where he ultimately oversaw regional sales.

These years overlapped with work for the Marine Corps as a retired colonel, including chief of staff for its reserve policy board between 2012 and 2016, and even a journalism role as editorial board advisor for Marine Corps Gazette.

Mann would return to Cisco as sales director for its Advanced Threat Solutions team between 2014 and 2017, before taking a few months off to then become Cisco's senior director for network security. He'd stay on at Cisco for nine more years, including overlap with a board observer role for Oort, which began in 2021 and ended in 2023 when the authentication firm was acquired by Cisco.

The exec pivoted from security in 2023 to become VP of strategy and business acceleration at Cisco to modernize its systems architecture. A year later he become VP of strategy and operations for Cisco's networking business, which includes its optics and silicon solutions.

Mann's departure comes after the networking segment posted a 25% year-over-year increase to $8.8 billion in Cisco's most recent earnings.

Cisco's Acacia optical business pulled $1 billion in orders during the third quarter of its fiscal 2026. CEO Chuck Robbins noted that Acacia has shipped more than 750,000 400 Gb/s (400G) and more than 40,000 800G coherent pluggable optics to date, with expectations of a 200% full-year increase in revenues.

The Q3 financials also touted the first three design wins for Cisco’s Silicon One-based P200 platform, as well as a G200-powered system sale to an unnamed hyperscaler.

Mann's replacement has yet to be named.