CES: A Chat With Cisco CEO John Chambers

Cisco (CSCO) CEO John Chambers just might be one the most careful executives in the Valley about talking to the press; in a brief chat with Tech Trader Daily at a media reception last night, he didn’t give away much about his views on the state of the economy or the current quarter. But he did have a few things to say. Here’s a summary.

• On the state of the economy: “I’m going to pass on the economy question,” he said. But he did say that in the current environment, “companies with cash are king, queen and the royal family.” Cisco has close to $27 billion in cash and short-term investments, and the total continues to climb.
• On acquisitions: Chambers says Cisco is always aggressive in making acquisitions during downturns. He says the best time to make acquisitions is during downturns.

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