Cisco names David Meads as Vice President for Middle East & Africa; Reem Asaad steps down

Cisco has announced the appointment of David Meads as the Vice President for the Middle East, Africa, Romania, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), effective immediately.

David takes over responsibilities from Reem Asaad, who stepped down from the position today, a role she had held since 2020. While the exact reason for Reem’s departure is not known, she has indicated in a LinkedIn post that she plans to take a career break for the next few months.

In addition to his new role, David will continue to serve as the CEO of the UK and Ireland. He brings over three decades of leadership experience and has been serving in key roles at Cisco since 2006. In his previous roles, he served at techUK and Affiniti. He will be responsible for driving the company’s growth strategy and operations across these regions.

Welcoming David to his new responsibilities, Oliver Tuszik, President of EMEA at Cisco, said, “It is great to welcome David back to the region. He is a seasoned leader with a proven track record of driving business growth, developing high-performing teams, and spearheading technology initiatives that have a true impact on nations and industries alike. David’s strategic vision and deep understanding of customers’ and partners’ needs will be instrumental in guiding Cisco's next phase of growth and supporting the region's digital advancement.”

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David added, “I am equally honored and excited about the opportunity to drive Cisco’s business in this vibrant and diverse region. It holds tremendous potential, and with our incredible teams and unmatched ecosystem of partners, we are well-positioned to empower our customers and contribute to the acceleration of national digital agendas within the region.”

Cisco’s exiting VP of MEA & CIS, Reem also extended her wishes for David in her post, stating, “While this marks the end of this chapter, I am delighted that David Meads will now be taking the lead on Cisco’s strategy and commercial operations in the region. With his deep industry knowledge and well-established experience in this region, David is well-positioned to sustain and elevate the momentum that our teams have achieved across the Middle East, Africa, Romania, and CIS.”