Last week, an internal memo from Cisco was leaked to the press. It was in response to reports that Cisco had overcharged California State University $100 million to use its network. Well, the leak made people at Cisco angry, and that anger has materialized into a bizarre manhunt, executed by one vice president, in his leisure time.


VP Mike Quinn sent out an email saying he'd make finding the source of the leak his personal hobby, and that it would be better for the source to come forward and admit to insulting and betraying the Cisco "family".

Here's the full email, posted by Brad Reese:

This is an open response to the person(s) that sent our internal confidential memo regarding the RFP response noted in the Subject line. I want to advise you that no matter the color of your badge (blue or red), the years of service and or your CPC rating you have decided to violate the Code of Business Conduct. The company in response to a number of requests to share internally what our RFP contained once again is insulted by the lack of respect for the business and "family" internal to Cisco. The person or persons whom felt it was cool or correct to share this internal memo should now have the intestinal fortitude to stand up and admit that they did this, then resign. I want you to remember that Cisco puts the groceries on your table every two weeks, not Brad Reese or other Slander Sheet Journalists. That you disrespected everyone else at Cisco. Now I know you do not have it in you to stand up and admit what you did, so I will now make you my "hobby." Ask around you will find out that I like to work on my hobbies. Mike Quinn

Vice President - Services

Cisco Systems

[contact information redacted]


So! Good and crazypants, right? And also perhaps an indication of what the Cisco culture would look like if someone stepped forward to leak something more damning than maybe bullying a university into more expensive network solutions. [Brad Reese via NetworkWorld]