Karl Meulema's Biography

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Karl Meulema is Vice President, Global Strategy and Operations for Cisco Services. In his role, Meulema is responsible for managing the strategy and planning, operations, marketing and channels strategy that accelerate time to profitability and differentiation for Cisco Services, its partners, and end-customers.

Meulema joined Cisco in June 2000, as Director of Services Marketing for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), where he played a pivotal role in the development and execution of a partner-focused services strategy that included the launch of the first partner-enabled advanced services offering for the region.

Meulema relocated to the United States in July 2001, to lead Worldwide Enterprise/Commercial Marketing for Cisco Services. In May 2002, he assumed increased responsibility for Worldwide Services Channel Sales and Marketing. Meulema and his team reshaped the partner program landscape for technical support services, reaching new heights in the balance between partner and Cisco branded services, while increasing profitability and customer satisfaction for both the partner and Cisco. The team created the Partner Business Consulting process, using targeted business consulting with partners to enhance partner performance in customer satisfaction, revenue and profit.

In March 2004, Meulema’s role within CA was expanded to VP Services Marketing and Channels, thus aligning all CA marketing functions under his leadership. He assumed responsibility for CA’s Commercial Business Council in July 2005 and spearheaded the development of the innovative Smart Care offer targeted specifically to Mid-Market customers. In response to changing market dynamics, the team launched the Collaborative Services business model which pairs the best of what Cisco has to offer with a partner’s value add in unique service offerings.

Meulema was named VP of the newly formed Global Strategy and Operations organization which comprises Strategy and Planning, Operations, Marketing and Channels in August 2007.

Prior to joining Cisco, Meulema spent 13 years performing a variety of corporate strategy, professional services and field sales positions for Hewlett-Packard.

Meulema holds a Master’s degree in business administration from Nijenrode University in the Netherlands and a Bachelor’s degree in process control systems from The Hague University as well as a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Rotterdam University. He resides in California with his wife and one of his three children.