FAST FORWARD

Carl Russo, former group vice president of optical networking for Cisco and former CEO of Cerent (which Cisco purchased for $6.9 billion in 1999), recently left his post at the company to pursue other interests. On the heels of Russo's departure, Cisco recruited Fujitsu's former chief operating officer, Ron Martin, take over his duties. Russo's future plans include spending more time with his family and auto racing in the Toyota Atlantic CART series. Russo talked with senior editor Liane H. LaBarba about his departure and what he's considering doing next.

On reasons for leaving: This is something [Cisco group vice president] Jayshree [Ullal] and I have been working toward for a little bit. But Jayshree came up to speed pretty quickly, which enabled me to accelerate some things. I hadn't necessarily been planning to do this — my plan was not to be in an operating role and help Jayshree and the team get up to speed. I think things are going well for the team, especially from a market share standpoint. If there were a time for me to go from gray to black, this would be a good time.

On near-term plans: The first one is just to spend more time with the kids and the family. I'm not going to spend seven days a week there, but I very much want to spend more time there. I'm going to give Cisco a hand anyway I can, but they don't need to be paying me to do that. I'll do it regardless. I'm not going to leave the industry. I'm going to work with some younger companies, but if you're going to be in an operating role, you need to be banging the drum seven days a week or get the hell out of the way and let someone else do it.

On eventually returning to an operating role: I don't know what happens in the future, but my gut feeling is to wait until my two little ones are into elementary school. Once they're in school, I may look to do that again if anyone will have me. But it's a decision I wouldn't want to make in the short term. I don't know if it will do any good for the kids, but it will be good for me. I've had a chance to get to know some pretty successful people in business that are older than I am. When you get a chance to know them, you ask them questions about life. Of all of the folks I have gotten to know, none of them have said, “I spent too damn much time with the family.” I very much love the industry, and I certainly have a lot of very fond feelings for Cisco, John [Chambers, Cisco's president and CEO] and the whole team. I'm going to help them whether they pay me or not.

On seeing eye-to-eye with Chambers: While he may have to look at the company as a whole, and I looked at one part of it, we were really very congruent. I have a very fond feeling for him.

On entering other industry sectors: My history is almost completely about systems, either big or small, that are in the business of moving bits. I can't imagine leaving that general space. In spite of the boom and bust cycle, people are going to continue to build networks. I don't see any reason to leave this industry — certainly not for the rest of my life. I see myself working with young companies. I enjoy it very much, and it's something I can do without doing it 7 by 24. And it's something that the CEOs of those companies prefer you not do 7 by 24. I'm definitely not leaving the industry. There's just too much going on.