Cisco Systems Inc.'s (Nasdaq: CSCO) service provider unit has a new top marketing guy, and its service provider boss has cooled talks with Redback, Light Reading has learned.

Sameer Padhye is now the vice president of marketing for Cisco's service provider line of business, replacing Larry Lang, who formerly held that role. Lang is out on family leave and expects to return to work in a few weeks, according to a Cisco spokesperson.

Cisco is mum on what Lang's new job will be when he gets back.

Padhye's former role was as vice president of Cisco's service provider business in Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

This movement in Cisco's service provider unit comes at a time when speculation is running rampant about the future of Kevin Kennedy, executive vice president of Cisco's service provider unit.

Light Reading recently reported that Kennedy was negotiating for the top spot at Redback Networks Inc. (Nasdaq: RBAK) and that his relationship with Cisco CEO John Chambers had seen better days (see Cisco's Kennedy Ready to Leave? and Cisco's Kennedy: Recruiter's Dream?).

A source familiar with the situation has confirmed that Kennedy considered the Redback job -- or at least went far enough along to do some due diligence on the company. However, talks have cooled, says the source.

"Things either broke down because of employment terms or because all the [press] leaks caused him some embarrassment," the source says. [Ed. note: Sorry!] Redback Chairman Pierre Lamond is said to be looking at other candidates.

Kennedy is out sick today and could not be reached for comment.

- Phil Harvey, Senior Editor, Light Reading
http://www.lightreading.com