Vice President, Systems Engineering Europe, Middle East, Africa, Russia –

Cisco International Limited

Ian Kennedy formally led the Systems Engineering organisation at Cisco International Limited across Europe, Middle East, Africa and Russia (EMEAR).

Here he developed ICT solutions leveraging the network as a platform for business transformation across the public and private sectors, and building architectural blueprints for the delivery of advanced secure network-based services. Underpinning these activities Ian introduced Enterprise Architecture practices and methodology to the global Systems Engineering organisation.

More recently, his focus was on the development and delivery of Internet technologies as a platform for Smart City and cloud-based services. Increasingly the services being developed are leveraging programmable, open infrastructure and lead directly to innovative solutions for collaboration, mobility, data center and the broader enterprise environment.

Within the UK, Ian is a member of the Greater Manchester Business Leadership Council, which brings together private sector leaders to review key strategic issues, offering insight and constructive challenge to policy makers in relation to the region’s strategic ambitions to drive economic growth.

Ian is also Chair of SharpFutures, a social enterprise based in East Manchester delivering apprenticeships and volunteering opportunities in the digital creative sector.

Ian is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Chartered Engineer, Chartered IT Practitioner, Member of the IET, BCS & IEEE, and is a BCS Certified IS Consultant. He holds a First Class BSc Honours degree from the Open University.