Manuel Aragon Email and Phone Number

Lead and oversee global operations initiatives in the areas of workforce strategy, long-range business planning, and growth enablement. Previously managed the Chief Operating Officer's (COO) overall communications strategy and platform, and led employee-centered global initiatives and events, including engagement, inclusion, culture, and performance. Oversaw the planning and production of Cisco Stories (human-centered stories) and the IT Leadership program at Cisco Live. Held additional Chief of Staff responsibilities, including budget and workforce planning, transforming strategic plans into operational execution, managing the operating model, and preparing for high-impact COO executive customer and public sector engagements. Led special business projects, including improving and implementing an agile framework to prioritize and deliver capabilities supporting the company's top growth and transformation initiatives.

Led the Chief Information Officer’s (CIO) executive customer and partner relations by engaging with key strategic customers, partners, and suppliers to support the company's digital transformation agenda. Structured the Customer Executive Sponsorship Program. Prepared CIO updates for the Board of Directors and Audit Committee. Developed talent strategies for team growth and professional development. Drove strategic and operational alignment across IT departments and other business functions, including Finance, Legal, and Human Resources. Managed business operations and administration within the Office of the CIO. Simplified the services and software supplier landscape, improved supplier performance, increased organizational efficiency, and managed the investment portfolio.

Assumed executive leadership roles in business strategy, supply chain, manufacturing, logistics, acquisition integration, business divestitures, new product development, strategic sourcing, and supplier management. Directed the startup, opening, and expansion of multiple facilities and teams globally. Managed an extensive outsourced global network from the Netherlands (2007-2010) with over eight sites and 3,000 employees, and in Mexico (2015-2020) with more than seven sites and 6,000 employees. Established a management system for the outsourced model, focusing on excellence in people, processes, innovation, performance, and productivity. Led a large commercial platform, shaping the sourcing strategy and execution for end-to-end solutions, including Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS), Original Design Manufacturing (ODM), and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), for two technology segments with multi-billion-dollar expenditures. Led an advanced engineering organization within the Service Provider Video Technology group.

Held leadership positions with increasing responsibility in strategy and operations, new product development and advanced engineering, new product introduction, quality, testing, manufacturing, and product engineering.

Resident Engineer responsible for new product introduction and sustaining engineering for advanced television and video products.

Served as an Instrumentation and Control Engineer for nuclear reactor control and monitoring systems at the Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant.