Get Carter: Oclaro Did, From Cisco

Cisco's Transceiver Module Group has lost its second high profile employee this month. Adam Carter, the general manager of the optical unit, has left to become Chief Commercial Officer at optical components maker Oclaro.

Oclaro Inc. (Nasdaq: OCLR) noted Carter's hiring in an SEC filing. Carter had been with Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) for more than seven years, during which he once lamented that there were too many components suppliers in the sector. Prior to that, he worked for Avago Technologies Pte. . (See Troubles Linger for Optical Components and Avago Adds Transceiver.)

Carter's departure marks Cisco's second recent loss of a key player from its transceiver unit. Earlier this month, Giacomo Losio, who had been lead optical designer in the transceiver group, was appointed head of technology at components manufacturer ProLabs.

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Carter looks like a nice huire for Oclaro after a fairly lousy run. The company, which resulted from the merger of Avanex and Bookham in 2009, later pursued other acquisitions, but ended up with post-deal indigestion pains, and quarterly losses mounted. (See Bit Parts: Following the Optical Money, Oclaro Makes Changes at the Top and Bookham, Avanex Form Oclaro.)

Meanwhile, with the recent departures of Carter and Losio, the staff roster at Cisco's transceiver group might bear further observation: Are further departures imminent, or will Cisco make some significant hires of its own?

— Dan O'Shea, Managing Editor, Light Reading