H.K. Desai
Next on our list is H.K. Desai, president, CEO, and chairman of QLogic Corp. (Nasdaq: QLGC). When Desai took over in 1995, QLogic was entirely focused on SCSI components.
Fortunately for QLogic, Desai early on saw the shift to storage networks. He's since turned the company into a leading supplier of Fibre Channel host bus adapters and switches and, perhaps soon, iSCSI adapters. Desai has forged a strong relationship with Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO), which could pay off handsomely if Cisco makes good on its promises to tear out a piece of the SAN market. In any case, QLogic has also been seriously out-executing the competition (see QLogic Keeps Hot Streak Alive).
We like the fact that Desai, 56, is an engineer. He's not faking this stuff. That technology-rooted perspective informs the company's "Fibre Down" strategy, predicated on the theory that FC HBAs will eventually get embedded directly into servers and systems as silicon. On this front, too, QLogic is well ahead of the pack.
"As an engineer and somebody at the center of the storage networking storm, he understands the transition to ever-tighter integrated silicon design," says Clay Sumner, analyst with financial firm Legg Mason Inc. "That understanding is a key part of retaining key engineering talent for embedded systems design and that is critical to the company's future."
Bob Friday, Chief AI Officer for Juniper Networks, explains how the advanced technology is transforming operations.
Contact center leaders from 8x8, Awaken Intelligence, and 360insight discuss the importance of agent experience.
AI may force enterprises to rewire parts of their data centers so they are fully optimized to run such workloads. The question is do you use Ethernet or InfiniBand?
