A striking similarity between Carl Russo, a Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) top gun, and Mark Cree, now leading Cisco's charge into the hottest technology market this year – storage networking – has been brought to light by an in-depth Light Reading investigation.

It raises serious questions concerning possible cloning of successful executives at the networking equipment giant. "I'm just waiting for a Chambers look-alike to turn up before I blow the whistle," says a top industry analyst, who requested anonymity.

Some analysts pooh-pooh the idea, putting forward a lower-tech explanation: "Have you noticed that they are never seen together? There's a simple reason for that," says another anonymous source. "I think it's all part of Cisco's cost-cutting efforts. What's the betting that other new ventures from Cisco will be led by folk looking just like Russo?"

Cisco couldn't be reached for comment at press time (must be something wrong with the phone lines).

These disturbing developments came to light while Light Reading was preparing the latest edition of its The Top Ten Movers and Shakers in Optical Networking – the result of eight month's intensive investigations, published today. Further details of the Russo-Cree conundrum, together with insights into other industry enigmas, are contained in new sections of the listing, including Close but No Cigar and Where are They Now?.

— Peter Heywood and Stephen Saunders, Founding Editors, Light Reading
http://www.lightreading.com