Cisco senior vice president Tony Bates has been appointed chief executive (CEO) of Skype as it places greater focus on the enterprise segment.
Bates, who was a driving force behind much of Cisco's key enterprise offerings, will bring 20 years of business IT experience to Skype when he makes the switch later this month.
He has also served on the boards of YouTube and LoveFilm.
"There are extraordinary opportunities ahead for Skype and I am eager to lead the company through this exciting juncture in its continuing transformation," Bates said.
"I look forward to working with Skype's management team and talented employees to engineer the next wave of game-changing products and services for our users."
Current CEO Joshua Silverman has agreed to step down, while Adrian Dillon, Skype's chief financial and administrative officer, will serve as interim CEO until Bates arrives.
"With a world-class communications industry veteran like Tony, Skype is well positioned to become the communications platform of choice for consumers and businesses around the world," Silverman added.
"I look forward to supporting Tony and the team in ensuring a smooth transition."
The appointment is a further sign Skype is looking to make a big splash in the business segment.
The announcement comes a week after the company signed a deal with communications firm Avaya to provide solutions tailored for enterprises.
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