Cisco appoints Pete Shimer to board

Cisco has appointed former Deloitte executive Pete Shimer to its board of directors, effective immediately. The move adds a seasoned enterprise leader to the networking giant’s governance team as the company positions itself around infrastructure for the AI era.

Shimer brings more than four decades of executive leadership experience and will serve on Cisco’s Audit Committee.

The appointment highlights how major infrastructure players are strengthening board-level expertise in digital transformation, enterprise strategy, and financial oversight as demand for AI-driven networking and data infrastructure accelerates.

Shimer spent 40 years at Deloitte, where he held several senior leadership positions focused on enterprise transformation, corporate development, and long-term strategy. His experience includes a decade in Deloitte’s C-suite, where he served as Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and interim Chief Executive Officer.

Cisco sees this background as particularly relevant as it expands its role in supporting the infrastructure that powers AI workloads and modern enterprise networks.

“We’re delighted to welcome Pete to Cisco’s board,” said Chuck Robbins, chair and CEO of Cisco. “His four decades of experience leading large global organizations and guiding clients through digital transformation brings invaluable insight at a critical moment, as Cisco delivers the critical infrastructure powering AI innovation worldwide.”

Shimer’s appointment reflects a broader trend among technology companies to add directors with operational and financial leadership backgrounds as strategic investments in AI, cloud connectivity, and cybersecurity continue to grow.

Beyond his career at Deloitte, Shimer has built an extensive track record as a board director across multiple industries. He currently serves on the boards of Alaska Airlines, leadership advisory firm Korn Ferry, and semiconductor design software company Synopsys.

His role at Synopsys connects him closely to the semiconductor and electronic design automation ecosystem—areas central to AI hardware development and data infrastructure.

Shimer also serves as Executive Chair of the Cancer Artificial Intelligence Alliance (CAIA), an initiative focused on applying AI technologies to cancer research and treatment.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from the University of Washington and remains active in several academic and healthcare organizations. Shimer is an Executive Committee Board member for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and the University of Washington Foster School of Business, and previously served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the University of Washington Foundation.

Cisco said Shimer’s expertise in enterprise transformation, strategic planning, and digital innovation will support the company as it continues to develop AI-driven networking and security platforms.