Meru Networks Inc.'s VP of marketing, Ben Gibson, has resigned to take a position at Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO).

Gibson says he will be "heading up outbound marketing for [Cisco's] wireless and mobile wireless business units" starting next week. He'll be working with ex-Airespacer Alan Cohen, who heads up product marketing for Cisco.

The decision for Gibson to move from Meru was "a personal, family-based decision." He already has some roots at Cisco, having worked there "for a good portion of my earlier career."

He claims the move isn't a reflection on Meru. "I think Meru is a very interesting company and that they have a good shot, particularly with voice-over-WLAN as that market develops," he tells Unstrung.

Still it seems like all roads lead to Cisco in the wireless LAN game. Gibson was only at Meru a matter of months, having moved there from Proxim Corp. (Nasdaq: PROX), which has since had its assets acquired out of bankruptcy. (See Meru Adds VPs and Terabeam Grabs Proxim's Assets.)

Meru hasn't announced a replacement yet. "Stay tuned," a spokesperson for the company says.

— Dan Jones, Site Editor, Unstrung