Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) appointed Pete Shimer, a former Deloitte executive, to its board of directors effective immediately, the company announced.

Shimer brings 40 years of executive leadership experience from Deloitte, where he held senior positions including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and interim Chief Executive Officer during a decade-long tenure in the firm's C-suite. He will serve on Cisco's Audit Committee.

"His four decades of experience leading large global organizations and guiding clients through digital transformation brings invaluable insight at a critical moment, as Cisco delivers the critical infrastructure powering AI innovation worldwide," said Chuck Robbins, chair and CEO of Cisco.

Shimer currently serves as a director on the boards of Alaska Airlines, Korn Ferry, and Synopsys. He also serves as Executive Chair of the Cancer Artificial Intelligence Alliance.

The new board member holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from the University of Washington. He serves as an Executive Committee Board member for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and University of Washington Foster School of Business, and previously chaired the Board of Directors for the University of Washington Foundation.

The appointment adds corporate governance and financial expertise to Cisco's board as the networking equipment company positions itself in artificial intelligence infrastructure markets.