Data Center Head Departing Cisco

The world’s principal networking hardware builder, Cisco (cisco.net), reported on Monday that the leader of its data center division was leaving after 15 years with the company.

Jayshree Ullal, who initially joined the company with its purchase of Crescendo Communications in 1993, said in a posting to the company’s blog that she would be leaving.

Ullal is the third key executive to depart the company in just over 12 months.

In December, chief development officer Charles Giancarlo left the company to join private equity firm Silver Lake.

Additionally senior vice president Mike Volpi left to become CEO of Internet television company Joost in February 2007.

Ullal’s post didn’t state what she aims to do after leaving Cisco.

The blog post stated that it was with mixed feelings and much introspection that she had come to a decision to leave Cisco after 15 great and memorable years.

Her loyalty and affection to Cisco, CEO John Chambers, and her teams made this a very difficult and lengthy decision process.

However, she is confident that she is passing the baton to some of the best engineering talent and general managers in the industry.

John McCool, senior vice president of the Internet systems business unit, and one of Ullal’s deputies, will reportedly take over her position.