Cisco Systems Appoints Cognite CEO Girish D. Rishi to Board of Directors

Executive Summary

On October 7, 2026, the Board of Directors of Cisco Systems, Inc. appointed Girish D. Rishi, CEO of industrial AI/software firm Cognite Holding B.V., as an independent director, effective October 9, 2026. The appointment was disclosed via Form 8-K under Item 5.02.

Director Background & Governance

• Appointee: Girish D. Rishi
• Current Role: CEO of Cognite Holding B.V.
• Independence: Determined to be independent pursuant to The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC listing standards.
• Committee Assignments: Committee roles have not yet been established and will be determined at a future date.
• Indemnification: Cisco entered into its standard form Indemnity Agreement with Mr. Rishi.

Compensation Arrangements

Mr. Rishi will participate in Cisco's standard non-employee director compensation program:

• Cash Retainer: Pro-rata portion of the $105,000 annual cash retainer, payable quarterly in arrears through the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders.
• Equity Grant: Pro-rata initial equity award based on a $270,000 annualized value under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan.
• Other Benefits: Eligibility to participate in Cisco's charitable matching gifts program (up to $25,000 for calendar year 2026) and options to defer cash/equity into stock units or deferred compensation plans.

Market Impact & Significance

• Trading Significance: Low. This is a routine governance update regarding a new independent director appointment with standard non-employee compensation, involving no immediate open-market transactions.