Microsoft Confirms Data Center VP Headed To Cisco

infrastructure data center collaboration software

A spokesperson for Microsoft confirmed in an e-mail to ChannelWeb that Chrapaty had left Microsoft for Cisco but did not offer any other details.

Spokespersons for Cisco declined to comment following a ChannelWeb request for confirmation.

All Things D's Kara Swisher reported late Sunday night that Chrapaty, Microsoft's corporate vice president of Global Foundation Services, had left Microsoft to take "a top job at Cisco."

Swisher cited sources who indicated Chrapaty will assume the top job in Cisco's collaboration software group, which, if true, puts her in charge of Cisco's cloud and SaaS strategy and its WebEx products, among other pieces of the Cisco portfolio.

Chrapaty's resume includes executive roles with Organic, AllBusiness and ETrade technologies, as well as a stint as chief technology officer of the National Basketball Association.

According to her job description page on Microsoft's PressPass media resources portal, Chrapaty was "responsible for strategy and delivery of the foundational platform for Microsoft Live, Cloud and Online Services worldwide including physical infrastructure, security, operational management, global delivery and environment considerations."

Chrapaty's move means Cisco gains a new face after grappling, in recent weeks, with major executive departures.

Dennerline, who spent nearly a decade with Cisco, left the networking giant in August to become executive vice president of sales for the Americas at Salesforce.com.

Dennerline's exit came on the heels of Cisco channel veteran Alex Thurber exiting Cisco for a worldwide channel chief role at McAfee.