Cisco has announced the appointment of Stefan Leitl as Vice President for Australia and New Zealand.
Leitl will oversee all facets of Cisco’s operations across the two countries as he returns to Melbourne after spending the last six years working in Silicon Valley. He takes over from Ben Dawson, who has become President for Cisco’s Asia Pacific, Japan and Greater China region. Leitl will report to Dawson in his new role.
Leitl brings with him over a decade of experience at Cisco, most recently serving as Global Vice President for Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) Sales. In that capacity, he helped global customers establish secure connections and manage critical infrastructure by applying advanced networking, security, and AI-capable solutions.
His previous remit involved simplifying and expanding IT operations within operational technology environments, focusing on cyber resilience and the enablement of industrial networks that are prepared for artificial intelligence-based applications. Leitl’s efforts contributed to improved operational efficiency and digital transformation initiatives for various global customers.
Following his six-year tenure in Silicon Valley, Leitl will now lead the company’s Australia and New Zealand business. His leadership approach is described as being strongly customer-focused, aiming to connect clients with the breadth of Cisco’s offerings and its partner ecosystem to deliver successful outcomes.
“As the world evolves at an unprecedented pace, it’s clear that networking, security, and infrastructure is forming the foundation of every organisation’s success in the AI era.”
Leitl said his experience in global roles has given him insight into the positive effect of Cisco’s technology. He elaborated on his outlook for Cisco in the region:
“Through my experience in a global role, I have seen the impact that Cisco’s technologies and teams play to help organisations securely connect and manage critical infrastructure. I am excited to bring this perspective to help drive greater resilience, efficiency, and readiness for the future technology use cases across Australia & New Zealand.”
Leitl continued by noting the collective strength he sees in the company’s local team and their goals:
“I am honoured to lead a talented team as we build on our solid foundation and unlock the next phase of growth. Together, we will empower our customers to thrive, adapt, and lead in this new age of transformation.”
Leitl’s immediate superior, Dawson, was appointed President for Cisco’s business across Asia Pacific, Japan and Greater China in July 2025. In New Zealand, Jessica McFadden continues in her position as Country Leader.
Leitl’s background with Cisco started in 2011, initially as a Product Sales Specialist focusing on the company’s collaboration portfolio. He later served as a Client Executive, working closely with prominent financial services businesses in Australia to enhance their digital capability and transformation strategies.
In 2019, Leitl relocated to the United States to lead a team tasked with expanding Cisco’s webscale business. His responsibilities spanned collaboration with several major technology firms, including Apple, Oracle, Salesforce, Netflix, Twitter, Rackspace, and Equinix.
Prior to joining Cisco, Leitl was employed at NetStar, a Cisco partner that was subsequently acquired by Logicalis.
Leitl will be based in Melbourne with his wife and three children as he takes up his new responsibilities within Cisco’s Australia and New Zealand division.