Just days after Motorolas CEO said he will step down, Chief Technology Officer Padmasree Warrior also has left the company and will assume the same position at Cisco Systems Inc.

Motorola confirmed Monday that she was no longer with the company and Cisco announced her appointment Tuesday. Motorola CEO Ed Zander said Nov. 30 he was stepping down.

Media reports have her closely tied to Zander and the company was said to have been preparing for her departure for weeks. She told Reuters it was her decision to leave Motorola.

It didnt take long for Cisco to snap her up.

Padmasree’s new role as CTO will help to develop and promote Cisco’s future technology leadership,” said John Chambers, chairman and CEO, Cisco. “She is a technology visionary, an excellent leader with a strong industry voice and business acumen, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our leadership team.”

Warrior, who became Motorolas CTO in 2003, was the highest ranking female in the companys history. The 47-year-old was at the company for 23 years and held several other positions, including corporate vice president and general manager of Motorola’s energy systems group and corporate vice president and chief technology officer for the Semiconductor Products Sector.

Ciscos CTO position had been vacant since Charles Giancarlo was promoted chief development officer in 2005. Motorolas chief strategy officer, Rich Nottenburg, has replaced Warrior at that company.

Cisco Systems Inc. www.cisco.com
Motorola Inc. www.motorola.com