He’s in the Cisco market. LOL
1 Like
Cisco’s CEO, Chuck Robbins graduated from Rocky Mount Senior High School & the University of North Carolina…
No guarantee IF Cisco were to make an HQ move from California, Raleigh would win…but it doesn’t hurt you have an NC born & bred boy ‘in charge’
4 Likes
But he was born in Georgia. It’s not a slam dunk.
Right now he resides in Los Gatos, CA (in the town where I grew up as a kid).
1 Like
Why are we even discussing this? Has Cisco indicated it is considering a HQ move? Or was the article click baiting folks to stir things up?
I haven’t heard any mention of it. My understanding is Cisco’s RTP site is considered the company’s East Coast “HQ” & has been for a long time.
I don’t know why you are discussing it. I never mentioned the topic of the HQ moving. I’m also not holding my breath for it to happen.
pBeez alluded to it earlier in this thread
1 Like
The article mentions it, with a link to another story.
" State officials believed that a Cisco headquarters move could be at play if Atlanta landed this expansion, according to the economic development documents." Like many other companies, the move - or opening an east coast HQ is being driven by cost of living issues.
It also included this tidbit: " Cisco CEO [Chuck Robbins](https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/search/results?q=Chuck Robbins) and Chief Financial Officer [Scott Herren](https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/search/results?q=Scott Herren) are both Georgia Tech graduates. Herren bought a home in Atlanta in October of last year, according to state property deeds."
Maybe that State title for Rocky Mount Senior & playing with the GOAT will win the day for Raleigh & NC…if it ever happened…I’m sure incentives will play a small part too. (NOTE: This article doesn’t say anything about Georgia Tech)
2 Likes
Our CFO did go to GTech, and he did move to Atlanta, but I’ve never heard that Robbins also went to GT.
I really hope Apple doesn’t repeat itself? with this terrible eyesore of a parking deck. I’m not surprised that we never see the parking deck when they show pictures of their headquarters.
4 Likes
Everyone likes to just show the spaceship, but that photo tells a much different story.
4 Likes
I’m curious how many companies that have been making big moves into Texas will be rethinking NC now. Looking at this map, our state is in a pretty unique position as a Southern state with low taxes and already active with pursuing corporate expansions, HQs, hubs, manufacturing plants, etc.
11 Likes
Not to get too nitty gritty on this but are we sure NC is safe?
RC can veto all day but if it’s sent to the NC Supreme Court can’t they overturn? Just like that BS voting law.
7 Likes
Doesn’t the NCSC still have a Democrat majority? I’m also not sure how they would be involved. You would need a law to be passed and challenged, and I don’t see that getting passed right now. I guess someone could sue the state over the harm they see being caused by abortions being performed, but I don’t see how they’d have standing as an injured party. I’m sure there’s arguments someone could come up with, but I’m cautiously optimistic that NC will remain with the status quo as long as there’s a Democrat governor. If that changes, all bets are off, but I would think this would galvanize a lot of voters.
5 Likes
Does it? I just assumed it wouldn’t based on everything else at the state level. I’m not too versed on the inner workings of the state politics beyond the basics.
One would hope that we see an economic bump though.
2 Likes
To bring this back to business, I’m not sure how much impact this will have, except for instances where there is a progressive woman in a high up leadership position. I think even for progressive companies like Apple or Google, I’m not sure how much this would really matter. I mean progressive companies go to TX, Ga, TN etc quite often knowing damn well what the politics there are like. Most companies that are LGBQT friendly still take money from Rebublican lobbyists. I know politics plays some role in decisions, but I think money speaks louder.
5 Likes
Yeah, I think you’re right about this. There are a lot of companies that post about Pride every June and still donate to guys like McConnell. Big tech’s current draw to cities like Austin and Nashville will only end if those cities start flatlining or declining, which certainly can happen with political changes, but it’s never immediate. I don’t expect we’ll see a shift for a while.
5 Likes
There’s perception and there’s agendas. Not often aligned.
6 Likes
There’s no denying that companies look out for the bottom line, even if it’s at odds with their stated beliefs, etc. I guess I was thinking more about talent acquisition and retention. If my company was making a new hub in Texas vs Colorado or something, I guarantee you it’s not just progressive women who wouldn’t make that move. Obviously I’m not a fortuneteller, so I have no idea what we’ll see. This is sort of uncharted territory in recent history, but I know HB2 was mentioned as a factor in some corporate decisions about NC (overstated or not), and this affects a lot more people than that did.
10 Likes
I don’t think so, with a Democrat governor, but a Republican majority in both the state house, and senate they could do it.