Ex-Cisco Bigwig Volpi to Head Joost?

Former Cisco executive Mike Volpi is reportedly headed to Joost to be the online video company's next CEO.

According to blogs Paidcontent.org and GigaOM, Volpi is in the final stages of negotiations with the company. A Joost spokesman said the company does not comment on rumor and speculation.

A call to Volpi's home was not immediately returned.

Current Joost CEO Fredrik de Wahl plans to leave the company following a recent closure of US$45 million in financing, according to Paidcontent.org.

Volpi was a high-ranking executive at Cisco before resigning for personal reasons in February. His departure coincided with a management reorganization at the company, but he said then that that had nothing to do with his decision to leave.

Instead, he said he wanted to join or start a company where he could leave his own imprint.

He left one at Cisco. Volpi is credited with helping Cisco grow to the $35 billion company it is today through acquisition. He was involved in about 70 acquisitions during his tenure at the company, which began in 1994.

Volpi also was considered an heir apparent to John Chambers as Cisco CEO.

Joost was formed by the founders of Internet telephone company Skype.