Cisco's UK and Ireland partner boss Bernadette Wightman is set to head up the networking Goliath's Cloud Centre of Excellence, after passing the channel baton to David Critchley, director of the commercial SME sector.

Wightman succeeded John Donovan as managing director for the channel in July 2008 but is now transitioning to a new global role.

"Cisco can confirm that Bernadette Wightman will leave her position as managing director of channels UK and Ireland," a Cisco spokesman told The Reg.

According to well-placed sources in Cisco's partner base, she will move to the US in a newly created position as senior director of the Cloud Centre of Excellence, reporting to Bill LePage, head of the global sales operations.

Company insiders have mooted the possibility that the role may eventually be split between two individuals, but that has yet to be determined.

In the interim, Critchley has assumed control of the UK and Ireland partner base but it is understood that a permanent replacement will not be appointed until the end of the vendor's current fiscal year on 31 July. ®