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As the former head of Cisco Investments, Derek Idemoto focused on strategic investments in areas critical to Cisco's growth, including cybersecurity, cloud computing, enterprise software, AI/ML, networking, and the future of work. These investments aimed to complement Cisco's portfolio and explore emerging technologies.
Derek Idemoto works at Cisco, a global technology conglomerate. He holds the position of Senior Vice President, Chief of Staff to the CEO, and Chief Strategy Officer at the company.
Derek Idemoto is the Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Cisco Investments at Cisco, based in San Jose, California. In this role, he leads external innovation strategies and has directed over 100 acquisitions and investments totaling more than $50 billion, including the $28 billion acquisition of Splunk. He manages a $2 billion active investment portfolio and recently spearheaded the launch of the firm's $1 billion global AI investment fund in 2024. Prior to Cisco, Idemoto served as Managing Director of Venture Investment at ITOCHU and Vice President of Corporate Development at Overture Services. He holds finance and business degrees from the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business and the UCLA Anderson School of Management. His career focuses on enterprise technology acquisitions and corporate venture capital within the cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and software sectors.
Derek Idemoto stands as a pivotal figure in the technology investment landscape, having significantly shaped Cisco's strategic direction through his leadership at Cisco Investments and his current role as Chief Strategy Officer. As the former Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Cisco Investments, Idemoto was instrumental in identifying and nurturing innovative startups that aligned with Cisco's strategic priorities. His tenure saw a focused approach on venture capital investments designed to complement Cisco's core product offerings and explore emerging market opportunities.
Under Idemoto's guidance, Cisco Investments actively sought out companies pushing boundaries in critical technology sectors. His investment focus areas typically included cybersecurity, cloud computing, enterprise software, artificial intelligence, machine learning, networking infrastructure, and the future of work. These strategic investments were not merely financial plays but were deeply integrated into Cisco's broader corporate strategy, often leading to partnerships, integrations, or even acquisitions that bolstered Cisco's market position and expanded its technological capabilities. He championed investments that enhanced Cisco's ability to deliver comprehensive solutions to its global customer base, from secure networks to collaborative platforms.
Idemoto's career background provides a strong foundation for his strategic acumen. Before joining Cisco in 2011, he honed his expertise in the financial sector, serving as a Managing Director at UBS Investment Bank. In this role, he specialized in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and corporate finance within the technology industry, advising numerous companies on complex transactions. His earlier experience at Credit Suisse First Boston further solidified his understanding of market dynamics and corporate strategy, skills he brought to bear at Cisco. This blend of investment banking and corporate development experience has given him a unique perspective on identifying value and driving strategic growth.
While specific individual investments are often a collective effort of the Cisco Investments team, Idemoto's leadership ensured a consistent strategy that yielded significant returns and strategic advantages for Cisco. The group's portfolio under his direction included numerous companies that went on to achieve success, either independently or through acquisition by Cisco or other major players. His strategic vision helped position Cisco at the forefront of innovation, ensuring the company remained agile and competitive in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. In his current capacity as Senior Vice President, Chief of Staff to the CEO, and Chief Strategy Officer, Derek Idemoto continues to play a critical role in defining Cisco's long-term vision, overseeing corporate strategy, and driving initiatives that ensure the company's sustained leadership in the global technology market.
