Setting up executive and assistant call handling in Webex Calling
Webex Calling
Verified 2026-10-02 · 59 sources · tier 2
For Webex Calling administrators with Control Hub access setting up call handling for one or more executive and assistant pairs..
In Webex Calling, an administrator makes users executives and executive assistants in Control Hub, and executive call filtering offers All External Calls, All Internal Calls, All Calls and Custom Call Filter 15 16 27. Cisco presents an administrative assistant screening calls on a shared line with their supervisor as a primary shared-line use case, and documents shared line appearance together with the executive service when the executive and assistants are in the same location 42 48.
Before you start
- The Executive and Executive Assistant features are available only with the Webex Calling Professional user license, and Professional workspace, Standard and Workspace licenses do not include them 36.
- Shared lines are available on Professional user and Professional workspace licenses with up to 35 shared appearances, and are not available on Standard or Workspace licenses 41.
- Both the executive and the executive assistant must have phone numbers assigned, not only extensions 35.
- Record each executive's and assistant's location, because a location administrator sees only executives in their assigned locations and can add only users from those locations as executive assistants 31.
- Virtual lines cannot be assigned to executive or executive-assistant functions, so build each pair on users, not on virtual lines 51.
- Record which assistants have a primary IP phone, because the executive and assistant feature access codes work only from the primary IP phone assigned to the user 26.
- Regardless of how many assistants an executive has, only a limited number of concurrent calls can be placed on behalf of that executive at any time, and Cisco's page does not state the number 18.
What changes by situation
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Step 1 Confirm licenses and phone numbers
Do
Confirm that the executive and every assistant hold a Webex Calling Professional user license, because the Executive and Executive Assistant features are available only with that license 36. If you will use a shared line, shared lines are available on Professional user and Professional workspace licenses and not on Standard or Workspace licenses 41. Confirm that the executive and each assistant have phone numbers assigned, not only extensions 35. To change a user's license, go to Users > select the user > Summary > Licenses > Edit Licenses, select the subscription to add or remove, and save 52. If an error appears when you open the user's Calling settings immediately after adding a Calling license, the documented remediation is to remove the license and reassign it 53.
Verify
Per-user Webex Calling license assignment is verified by exporting the user CSV from Control Hub 54. Suggested check: confirm that every executive and assistant on your list shows a full phone number, not only an extension.
Rollback
To release a license you added only for this build, remove it at Users > select the user > Summary > Licenses > Edit Licenses and save 52.
Step 2 Check locations, admin scope and line capacity
Executive-assistant feature only
Do
Confirm you can reach every user in the pair: a location administrator sees only executives in their assigned locations and can add only users from those locations as executive assistants 31.
Verify
Suggested check: signed in as the administrator who will make the changes, open the executive and confirm that you can find each intended assistant.
Shared line only
Do
Check the executive's available Shared Call Appearances, because the user's Shared Call Appearance limit may cap how many appearances can be assigned 49. A shared phone number can appear on at most 35 devices 45.
Verify
Suggested check: count every phone and client the executive's line will appear on and confirm the total stays within the limit noted above.
Executive-assistant feature plus a shared line
Do
Confirm that the executive and every assistant are in the same location, because Cisco documents shared line appearance together with the executive service when the executive and assistants are in the same location 48. Check the executive's available Shared Call Appearances, because the Shared Call Appearance limit may cap how many appearances can be assigned 49. A location administrator sees only executives in their assigned locations and can add only users from those locations as executive assistants 31.
Verify
Suggested check: open each user's calling settings and confirm that they all show the same location.
Step 3 Turn on the executive assistant role for each assistant
Executive-assistant feature only
Do
In Control Hub, go to Management > Users > the assistant > Calling > Between-user permissions > Executive/Executive assistant, turn on the toggle and select Executive assistant 15. To send the assistant's filtered executive calls to another destination, check Forward filtered calls and enter a phone number 28.
Verify
Suggested check: reopen the user and confirm that the toggle is on and Executive assistant is selected.
Rollback
Suggested rollback: reopen the same setting, turn the toggle off and save.
Shared line only
Do
We infer that shared lines alone give the assistant visibility of and access to the executive's line but none of the executive-assistant filtering, alerting-mode, rollover or opt-in controls, so skip this step 29.
Verify
Suggested check: confirm that the assistant's executive role setting remains off.
Executive-assistant feature plus a shared line
Do
In Control Hub, go to Management > Users > the assistant > Calling > Between-user permissions > Executive/Executive assistant, turn on the toggle and select Executive assistant 15. To send the assistant's filtered executive calls to another destination, check Forward filtered calls and enter a phone number 28.
Verify
Suggested check: reopen the user and confirm that the toggle is on and Executive assistant is selected.
Rollback
Suggested rollback: reopen the same setting, turn the toggle off and save.
Step 4 Turn on the executive role and assign assistants
Executive-assistant feature only
Do
For the executive, open Calling > Between-user permissions > Executive/Executive assistant, select Executive, then search for and add the assistant users 16. The assistants come from a pool of users already assigned the executive assistant service, and an assistant can serve more than one executive 21. An assistant added to an executive is opted in by default 34.
Verify
Suggested check: confirm that the executive's assistant table lists each assistant with opt-in checked.
Rollback
Unchecking the opt-in box for an assistant stops them handling the executive's calls 34. Suggested rollback: remove the assistants from the table, or turn the executive toggle off, and save.
Shared line only
Do
We infer that a shared line alone carries none of the executive-assistant controls, so skip this step 29.
Verify
Suggested check: confirm that the executive's role setting remains off.
Executive-assistant feature plus a shared line
Do
For the executive, open Calling > Between-user permissions > Executive/Executive assistant, select Executive, then search for and add the assistant users 16. The assistants come from a pool of users already assigned the executive assistant service, and an assistant can serve more than one executive 21. An assistant added to an executive is opted in by default 34.
Verify
Suggested check: confirm that the executive's assistant table lists each assistant with opt-in checked.
Rollback
Unchecking the opt-in box for an assistant stops them handling the executive's calls 34. Suggested rollback: remove the assistants from the table, or turn the executive toggle off, and save.
Step 5 Configure call filtering
All Calls + Executive-assistant feature only
Do
In the executive's settings, choose All Calls from the call filtering choices, which are All External Calls, All Internal Calls, All Calls and Custom Call Filter 27.
Verify
Suggested check: during the end-to-end tests, confirm that both internal and external callers reach the assistant.
Rollback
Executives can turn call filtering off with feature access code #62, from the primary IP phone assigned to them 22 26. Suggested rollback: turn call filtering off in the executive's settings and save.
All External Calls + Executive-assistant feature only
Do
In the executive's settings, choose All External Calls from the call filtering choices 27.
Verify
Suggested check: confirm that external calls reach the assistant and internal calls ring the executive directly.
Rollback
Executives can turn call filtering off with feature access code #62, from the primary IP phone assigned to them 22 26. Suggested rollback: turn call filtering off in the executive's settings and save.
All Internal Calls + Executive-assistant feature only
Do
In the executive's settings, choose All Internal Calls from the call filtering choices 27.
Verify
Suggested check: confirm that internal calls reach the assistant and external calls ring the executive directly.
Rollback
Executives can turn call filtering off with feature access code #62, from the primary IP phone assigned to them 22 26. Suggested rollback: turn call filtering off in the executive's settings and save.
Custom Call Filter by schedule and caller + Executive-assistant feature only
Do
Choose Custom Call Filter and give it a name, a schedule, a call source (any phone number, any internal, any external, or selected phone numbers) and an action to filter or not filter matching calls 19.
Verify
Suggested check: call from inside and outside the schedule, and from a selected and a non-selected number, and confirm that only matching calls reach the assistant.
Rollback
Executives can turn call filtering off with feature access code #62, from the primary IP phone assigned to them 22 26. Suggested rollback: delete the custom filter or turn call filtering off, and save.
No filtering + Executive-assistant feature only
Do
Leave call filtering off; executives can turn it on later with feature access code #61 and off with #62, from the primary IP phone assigned to them 22 26.
Verify
Suggested check: call the executive and confirm that the call is not redirected to an assistant.
Shared line only
Do
We infer that shared lines alone offer none of the executive-assistant filtering controls, so skip this step whatever filter you chose 29.
Verify
Suggested check: confirm that no filtering setting was changed for the executive.
All Calls + Executive-assistant feature plus a shared line
Do
In the executive's settings, choose All Calls from the call filtering choices, which are All External Calls, All Internal Calls, All Calls and Custom Call Filter 27.
Verify
Suggested check: during the end-to-end tests, confirm that both internal and external callers reach the assistant.
Rollback
Executives can turn call filtering off with feature access code #62, from the primary IP phone assigned to them 22 26. Suggested rollback: turn call filtering off in the executive's settings and save.
All External Calls + Executive-assistant feature plus a shared line
Do
In the executive's settings, choose All External Calls from the call filtering choices 27.
Verify
Suggested check: confirm that external calls reach the assistant through filtering and internal calls ring the executive directly.
Rollback
Executives can turn call filtering off with feature access code #62, from the primary IP phone assigned to them 22 26. Suggested rollback: turn call filtering off in the executive's settings and save.
All Internal Calls + Executive-assistant feature plus a shared line
Do
In the executive's settings, choose All Internal Calls from the call filtering choices 27.
Verify
Suggested check: confirm that internal calls reach the assistant through filtering and external calls ring the executive directly.
Rollback
Executives can turn call filtering off with feature access code #62, from the primary IP phone assigned to them 22 26. Suggested rollback: turn call filtering off in the executive's settings and save.
Custom Call Filter by schedule and caller + Executive-assistant feature plus a shared line
Do
Choose Custom Call Filter and give it a name, a schedule, a call source (any phone number, any internal, any external, or selected phone numbers) and an action to filter or not filter matching calls 19.
Verify
Suggested check: call from inside and outside the schedule, and from a selected and a non-selected number, and confirm that only matching calls are redirected to the assistant.
Rollback
Executives can turn call filtering off with feature access code #62, from the primary IP phone assigned to them 22 26. Suggested rollback: delete the custom filter or turn call filtering off, and save.
No filtering + Executive-assistant feature plus a shared line
Do
Leave call filtering off; executives can turn it on later with feature access code #61 and off with #62, from the primary IP phone assigned to them 22 26.
Verify
Suggested check: call the executive and confirm that the call is not redirected to an assistant, apart from appearing on the shared line.
Step 6 Set the alerting mode and the rollover for unanswered calls
All at once + Executive-assistant feature only
Do
Set the alerting mode to Simultaneous, which rings all of the executive's assistants at the same time so any one of them can pick up the call 2. Choose what happens to unanswered filtered calls: roll over to the executive's voicemail, forward to a specified number after a delay in seconds, or take no action 38.
Verify
Suggested check: place a filtered call, confirm that every opted-in assistant rings at once, then leave a second call unanswered and confirm that the chosen rollover happens.
Rollback
Suggested rollback: restore the previous alerting mode and rollover setting and save.
One after another in table order + Executive-assistant feature only
Do
Set the alerting mode to Sequential, which rings assistants in the order they appear in the executive assistant table, first assistant first, and order the table accordingly 1. Set the number of rings before the call moves to the next assistant 39. Choose what happens to unanswered filtered calls: roll over to the executive's voicemail, forward to a specified number after a delay in seconds, or take no action 38.
Verify
Suggested check: place a filtered call, confirm that the assistants ring one after another in table order, and confirm that the chosen rollover happens.
Rollback
Suggested rollback: restore the previous alerting mode, ring count, assistant order and rollover setting and save.
Shared line only
Do
We infer that alerting-mode and rollover controls belong to the executive-assistant feature and are absent from a shared-line-only build, so skip this step 29.
Verify
Suggested check: confirm that no alerting or rollover setting was changed for the executive.
All at once + Executive-assistant feature plus a shared line
Do
Set the alerting mode to Simultaneous, which rings all of the executive's assistants at the same time so any one of them can pick up the call 2. Choose what happens to unanswered filtered calls: roll over to the executive's voicemail, forward to a specified number after a delay in seconds, or take no action 38.
Verify
Suggested check: place a filtered call, confirm that every opted-in assistant rings at once, then leave a second call unanswered and confirm that the chosen rollover happens.
Rollback
Suggested rollback: restore the previous alerting mode and rollover setting and save.
One after another in table order + Executive-assistant feature plus a shared line
Do
Set the alerting mode to Sequential, which rings assistants in the order they appear in the executive assistant table, first assistant first, and order the table accordingly 1. Set the number of rings before the call moves to the next assistant 39. Choose what happens to unanswered filtered calls: roll over to the executive's voicemail, forward to a specified number after a delay in seconds, or take no action 38.
Verify
Suggested check: place a filtered call, confirm that the assistants ring one after another in table order, and confirm that the chosen rollover happens.
Rollback
Suggested rollback: restore the previous alerting mode, ring count, assistant order and rollover setting and save.
Step 7 Set Location To Ring and the caller ID shown to assistants
Executive-assistant feature only
Do
To have filtered calls also alert the executive's other locations, turn on Location To Ring and choose among Single Number Reach (Office Anywhere), the mobility location and shared call appearance locations 32. Set the alert type to Silent or Ring Splash 37. In the executive's settings, set the caller ID name and number presented on the assistant's phone; a custom name supports Unicode characters 14.
Verify
Suggested check: during a filtered call, confirm that the executive's chosen location gives the selected alert and that the assistant sees the configured caller ID.
Rollback
Suggested rollback: turn the location ringing option off and restore the previous caller ID setting.
Shared line only
Do
We infer that a shared line alone has none of the executive-assistant alerting controls 29. Instead, a shared line publishes paired statuses so each party can see when the line is active, on hold or alerting 55.
Verify
Suggested check: with a call active on the executive's line, confirm that the assistant's device shows the line as active.
Executive-assistant feature plus a shared line
Do
To have filtered calls also alert the executive's other locations, turn on Location To Ring and choose among Single Number Reach (Office Anywhere), the mobility location and shared call appearance locations, including the last if the executive's shared-line devices should alert 32. Set the alert type to Silent or Ring Splash 37. In the executive's settings, set the caller ID name and number presented on the assistant's phone; a custom name supports Unicode characters 14.
Verify
Suggested check: during a filtered call, confirm that the executive's chosen locations give the selected alert and that the assistant sees the configured caller ID.
Rollback
Suggested rollback: turn the location ringing option off and restore the previous caller ID setting.
Step 8 Put the executive's line on the assistant's devices
Executive-assistant feature only
Do
Skip this step: this build reaches the assistant through executive call filtering, which offers All External Calls, All Internal Calls, All Calls and Custom Call Filter 27.
Verify
Suggested check: confirm that you did not add a shared line for the executive on the assistant's devices.
A Cisco IP phone as the primary device + Shared line only
Do
In Control Hub, go to Users > the assistant > the phone > Configure Lines, pick the executive (a Calling-enabled user with available Shared Call Appearances) and assign a line index 44. Since February 2025, Webex Calling allows multiple appearances of one user's shared line on the same device 46.
Verify
Suggested check: confirm that the executive's number appears on the assistant's phone at the chosen line key.
Rollback
The primary user on line 1 cannot be removed 49. Suggested rollback: remove the executive's line from the phone's line configuration and save.
Webex App on desktop or mobile, with no primary desk phone + Shared line only
Do
In Control Hub, add the executive's line at Users > the assistant > Calling > User call experience > Application line assignment > Configure Lines 9. Control Hub allows up to 15 lines including the primary line for Webex App, but Webex App currently shows only 10 8. Shared and multiple lines work in Webex App on desktop, mobile and tablet, but not in the web client 11.
Verify
Suggested check: sign in on the assistant's desktop or mobile client and confirm that the executive's line appears in the line list.
Rollback
Suggested rollback: remove the executive's line from the assistant's application line assignment and save.
A Cisco IP phone as the primary device + Executive-assistant feature plus a shared line
Do
In Control Hub, go to Users > the assistant > the phone > Configure Lines, pick the executive (a Calling-enabled user with available Shared Call Appearances) and assign a line index 44. Keep every user in the executive's location, because Cisco documents shared line appearance with the executive service when the executive and assistants are in the same location 48.
Verify
Suggested check: confirm that the executive's number appears on the assistant's phone at the chosen line key.
Rollback
The primary user on line 1 cannot be removed 49. Suggested rollback: remove the executive's line from the phone's line configuration and save.
Webex App on desktop or mobile, with no primary desk phone + Executive-assistant feature plus a shared line
Do
In Control Hub, add the executive's line at Users > the assistant > Calling > User call experience > Application line assignment > Configure Lines 9. Control Hub allows up to 15 lines including the primary line for Webex App, but Webex App currently shows only 10 8. Shared and multiple lines work in Webex App on desktop, mobile and tablet, but not in the web client 11.
Verify
Suggested check: sign in on the assistant's desktop or mobile client and confirm that the executive's line appears in the line list.
Rollback
Suggested rollback: remove the executive's line from the assistant's application line assignment and save.
Step 9 Show the assistant how to opt in and opt out
A Cisco IP phone as the primary device + Executive-assistant feature only
Do
From their primary IP phone, the assistant opts in with #65, dialled alone to be prompted for the executive's number or followed by it, and opts out with #66 25 26. Executives and assistants can also manage their own executive-assistant settings in User Hub under Settings > Calling > Call settings 50.
Verify
Suggested check: after the opt-out code, confirm that the executive's assistant table shows that assistant opted out, and after the opt-in code, that they are opted in again.
Rollback
Suggested rollback: dial the opposite code.
Webex App on desktop or mobile, with no primary desk phone + Executive-assistant feature only
Do
Have the assistant manage their executive-assistant settings in User Hub under Settings > Calling > Call settings 50. We infer that because the executive-assistant feature access codes only work from the user's primary IP phone, an assistant with only Webex App cannot rely on them and must use User Hub or the app instead 30.
Verify
Suggested check: have the assistant opt out in their self-service settings and confirm that the executive's assistant table shows them opted out.
Rollback
Suggested rollback: have the assistant reverse the setting in their self-service settings.
Shared line only
Do
We infer that opt-in controls belong to the executive-assistant feature and are absent from a shared-line-only build, so skip this step 29.
Verify
Suggested check: confirm that the assistant has no opt-in setting to manage.
A Cisco IP phone as the primary device + Executive-assistant feature plus a shared line
Do
From their primary IP phone, the assistant opts in with #65, dialled alone to be prompted for the executive's number or followed by it, and opts out with #66 25 26. Executives and assistants can also manage their own executive-assistant settings in User Hub under Settings > Calling > Call settings 50.
Verify
Suggested check: after the opt-out code, confirm that the executive's assistant table shows that assistant opted out, and after the opt-in code, that they are opted in again.
Rollback
Suggested rollback: dial the opposite code.
Webex App on desktop or mobile, with no primary desk phone + Executive-assistant feature plus a shared line
Do
Have the assistant manage their executive-assistant settings in User Hub under Settings > Calling > Call settings 50. We infer that because the executive-assistant feature access codes only work from the user's primary IP phone, an assistant with only Webex App cannot rely on them and must use User Hub or the app instead 30.
Verify
Suggested check: have the assistant opt out in their self-service settings and confirm that the executive's assistant table shows them opted out.
Rollback
Suggested rollback: have the assistant reverse the setting in their self-service settings.
Step 10 Prepare the assistant to handle the executive's calls
A Cisco IP phone as the primary device + Executive-assistant feature only
Do
Show the assistant how to push a call to the executive with #63 followed by additional digits, and how to place a call on the executive's behalf with #64 followed by additional digits 23 24. Both codes work only from the primary IP phone assigned to the user 26. The Cisco MPP desk phone administration guide states that only the Cisco IP Phone 6871 supports the Executive and Assistant menu on a line key 33.
Verify
Suggested check: have the assistant push one call and place one call on the executive's behalf during the end-to-end tests.
Webex App on desktop or mobile, with no primary desk phone + Executive-assistant feature only
Do
Show the assistant how to place a call for the executive by choosing the executive's line as the active line, noting that outgoing calls keep using that line until it is changed 4. A call placed from the executive's line presents the executive's caller ID 6. An assistant with more than one executive selects the appropriate executive's line when placing a call 10. The incoming-call notification for an executive's call carries a description showing the call is intended for the executive 5. The assistant can answer or decline the call and handle it like any other call, including conferencing, screening, or transferring it to the executive 7.
Verify
Suggested check: confirm that the executive's line appears in the assistant's active-line list and that an incoming filtered call is labelled for the executive.
A Cisco IP phone as the primary device + Shared line only
Do
On a 9800 Series shared line, show the assistant how to barge into an active call on the line, which turns it into a three-way conference 43. Barge is gated by an administrator-configured barge feature 56. Show the assistant private hold, which stops coworkers resuming the held call, and the Shared - Active, Shared - On hold and Shared - Private statuses 47.
Verify
Suggested check: put a call on the executive's line on private hold and confirm that the other party sees it but cannot resume it.
Webex App on desktop or mobile, with no primary desk phone + Shared line only
Do
Show the assistant how to change the active line for outgoing calls, which lets a user call from a line with a different caller ID 57. On Webex Calling, the end-user Webex App article says a user can have 1 primary line and up to 9 shared lines 58.
Verify
Suggested check: have the assistant select the executive's line as the active line and confirm that it stays selected for the next outgoing call.
A Cisco IP phone as the primary device + Executive-assistant feature plus a shared line
Do
Show the assistant how to push a call to the executive with #63 followed by additional digits, and how to place a call on the executive's behalf with #64 followed by additional digits 23 24. Both codes work only from the primary IP phone assigned to the user 26. The Cisco MPP desk phone administration guide states that only the Cisco IP Phone 6871 supports the Executive and Assistant menu on a line key 33. On a 9800 Series shared line, the assistant can barge into an active call on the line, which turns it into a three-way conference 43. On the same phones, private hold stops coworkers resuming the held call 47.
Verify
Suggested check: have the assistant push one call, place one call on the executive's behalf and use private hold once during the end-to-end tests.
Webex App on desktop or mobile, with no primary desk phone + Executive-assistant feature plus a shared line
Do
Show the assistant how to place a call for the executive by choosing the executive's line as the active line, noting that outgoing calls keep using that line until it is changed 4. A call placed from the executive's line presents the executive's caller ID 6. An assistant with more than one executive selects the appropriate executive's line when placing a call 10. The incoming-call notification for an executive's call carries a description showing the call is intended for the executive 5. The assistant can answer or decline the call and handle it like any other call, including conferencing, screening, or transferring it to the executive 7.
Verify
Suggested check: confirm that the executive's line appears in the assistant's active-line list and that an incoming filtered call is labelled for the executive.
Step 11 Test end to end
A Cisco IP phone as the primary device + Executive-assistant feature only
Do
Place filtered and unfiltered test calls, then have the assistant push one call to the executive with #63 and place one on the executive's behalf with #64 23 24.
Verify
Suggested check: leave one filtered call unanswered and confirm that the chosen rollover happens.
Webex App on desktop or mobile, with no primary desk phone + Executive-assistant feature only
Do
Place filtered and unfiltered test calls, then place one outgoing call with the executive's line chosen as the active line 4.
Verify
The outgoing call from the executive's line presents the executive's caller ID 6. Webex App call history shows where a redirected call came from, including calls redirected from executive assistants 12. Suggested check: leave one filtered call unanswered and confirm that the chosen rollover happens.
Shared line only
Do
Call the executive's number, answer on the assistant's appearance, then check unified call history, which since November 2025 shows users with shared lines who answered or initiated a call on the shared line 20.
Verify
Suggested check: confirm that the call alerted on both the executive's and the assistant's devices and that call history names the assistant as the person who answered.
A Cisco IP phone as the primary device + Executive-assistant feature plus a shared line
Do
Place filtered and unfiltered test calls, then have the assistant push one call to the executive with #63 and place one on the executive's behalf with #64 23 24.
Verify
Since November 2025, users with shared lines can see in unified call history who answered or initiated a call on the shared line 20. Suggested check: leave one filtered call unanswered and confirm that the chosen rollover happens.
Webex App on desktop or mobile, with no primary desk phone + Executive-assistant feature plus a shared line
Do
Place filtered and unfiltered test calls, then place one outgoing call with the executive's line chosen as the active line 4.
Verify
The outgoing call from the executive's line presents the executive's caller ID 6. Webex App call history shows where a redirected call came from, including calls redirected from executive assistants 12. Since November 2025, users with shared lines can see in unified call history who answered or initiated a call on the shared line 20.
Step 12 Hand day-to-day changes to the executive
Executive-assistant feature only
Do
Tell the executive that they can add assistants, filter calls, and set ring options and caller ID themselves in the user portal, and that changes there are reflected in Control Hub and vice versa 40. Executives manage these settings in User Hub under Settings > Calling > Call settings 50. For larger builds, Cisco added provisioning APIs in January 2025 to configure the executive assistant feature in Webex Calling 3.
Verify
Suggested check: have the executive make one small change in their self-service settings and confirm that it appears in your administrator view.
Rollback
Because portal changes are reflected in Control Hub and vice versa, an administrator can reverse an executive's change in Control Hub 40.
Shared line only
Do
Keep ownership of the line with the administrators: a shared line is one phone number appearing on up to 35 devices, provisioned by an administrator 59.
Verify
Suggested check: record every device and client that carries the executive's line so later changes start from a known list.
Executive-assistant feature plus a shared line
Do
Tell the executive that they can add assistants, filter calls, and set ring options and caller ID themselves in the user portal, and that changes there are reflected in Control Hub and vice versa 40. Executives manage these settings in User Hub under Settings > Calling > Call settings 50. The shared line itself is provisioned by an administrator 59.
Verify
Suggested check: have the executive make one small change in their self-service settings and confirm that it appears in your administrator view.
Rollback
Because portal changes are reflected in Control Hub and vice versa, an administrator can reverse an executive's change in Control Hub 40.
Applicability
Applies to: Cisco Webex Calling, Cisco Webex App, Cisco IP Phone 6800 Series with Multiplatform Firmware, and Cisco Desk Phone 9800 Series. Deployments: multi-tenant. Sources checked 2026-10-02. The Executive and Executive Assistant features apply only to the Webex Calling Professional user license 36. The executive-assistant provisioning APIs date from January 2025 3. Multiple appearances of one shared line on the same device apply from February 2025 onward 46. Shared-line call history naming who answered or initiated a call applies from November 2025 onward 20.
What remains uncertain
Cisco's page states that only a limited number of concurrent calls can be placed on behalf of an executive but does not state the number 18. The maximum number of assistants per executive and of executives per assistant is not covered by the sources below. Which Webex App releases support executive-assistant call handling on Webex Calling is not covered by the sources below. The Cisco MPP desk phone administration guide names only the Cisco IP Phone 6871 as supporting the Executive and Assistant menu on a line key 33. How executive-assistant menus behave on other phone models is not covered by the sources below. Cisco documents shared line appearance with the executive service when the executive and assistants are in the same location 48. How that combination behaves across locations is not covered by the sources below. The endpoint paths and payloads of the executive-assistant provisioning APIs are not covered by the sources below. Other calling platforms' variants of this feature and third-party call screening services are not covered by the sources below.
See also
Depends on
- Webex Calling license types and entitlements — Executive and Executive Assistant require the Professional user licence.
Related to
- The Webex Calling feature access codes — Executive and assistant FACs #61 to #66 used for filtering; call push; initiate call and opt-in.
- Webex Calling shared lines — Shared line appearance is the alternative or complement to the executive-assistant feature.
- Webex Calling virtual lines — Multiple appearances of shared or virtual lines on one device.
Sources
- 1Sequential alerting mode rings assistants in the order they appear in the executive assistant table, first assistant first.Configure executive or executive assistant services for users · Procedure for configuring an executive, Alerting mode step · Checked 2026-10-02
- 2Simultaneous alerting mode rings all of the executive's assistants at the same time and any one of them can pick up the call.Configure executive or executive assistant services for users · Procedure for configuring an executive, Alerting mode step · Checked 2026-10-02
- 3Cisco added provisioning APIs in January 2025 to configure the executive assistant feature in Webex Calling.What's new in Webex Calling · Entry dated January 16, 2025, Provisioning API: Executive assistant · Checked 2026-10-02
- 4In Webex App an assistant places a call for the executive by choosing the executive's line as the active line; outgoing calls keep using that line until it is changed.Handle your manager's calls in Webex App · Section on making calls on your manager's behalf · Checked 2026-10-02
- 5In Webex App, the incoming-call notification for an executive's call carries a description showing the call is intended for the executive.Handle your manager's calls in Webex App · Section on answering calls for your manager · Checked 2026-10-02
- 6A call an assistant places from the executive's line in Webex App presents the executive's caller ID.Handle your manager's calls in Webex App · Section on making calls on your manager's behalf · Checked 2026-10-02
- 7An assistant can answer or decline an executive's call in Webex App and handle it like any other call, including conferencing, screening, or transferring it to the executive.Handle your manager's calls in Webex App · Section on answering calls for your manager · Checked 2026-10-02
- 8Control Hub allows up to 15 lines including the primary line for Webex App, but Webex App currently shows only 10.Shared line appearance for Webex App · Section on limits · Checked 2026-10-02
- 9An administrator adds shared lines to a user's Webex App in Control Hub at Users > user > Calling > User call experience > Application line assignment > Configure Lines.Shared line appearance for Webex App · Section on configuring shared lines for Webex App · Checked 2026-10-02
- 10An assistant with more than one executive selects the appropriate executive's line in Webex App when placing a call.Handle your manager's calls in Webex App · Section on multiple managers · Checked 2026-10-02
- 11Shared and multiple lines work in Webex App on desktop, mobile and tablet, but not in the web client.Shared line appearance for Webex App · Section on supported platforms · Checked 2026-10-02
- 12Webex App call history shows where a forwarded or redirected call came from, including calls redirected from executive assistants.Webex App | View call history · Introductory section on forwarded or redirected calls · Checked 2026-10-02
- 13The Webex App supported-calling-options table shows no checkmark for the Executive assistant row in the Webex Calling column.Supported calling options in Webex App · Feature comparison table, row Executive assistant, Webex Calling column · Checked 2026-10-02
- 14The executive's settings include the caller ID name and number presented on the assistant's phone, and a custom name supports Unicode characters.Configure executive or executive assistant services for users · Procedure for configuring an executive, Caller ID step · Checked 2026-10-02
- 15An administrator makes a user an executive assistant in Control Hub under Management > Users > user > Calling > Between-user permissions > Executive/Executive assistant, turning on the toggle and selecting Executive assistant.Configure executive or executive assistant services for users · Procedure for configuring an executive assistant, steps 1 to 4 · Checked 2026-10-02
- 16An administrator makes a user an executive at the same Control Hub location (Calling > Between-user permissions > Executive/Executive assistant), selects Executive, then searches for and adds assistant users.Configure executive or executive assistant services for users · Procedure for configuring an executive, steps 1 to 5 · Checked 2026-10-02
- 17When the executive answers, every assistant receives CallReleasedEvent with completedElsewhere; when one assistant answers, the other assistants receive the same event.Configure executive or executive assistant services for users · Note on call completion events · Checked 2026-10-02
- 18Regardless of how many assistants an executive has, only a limited number of concurrent calls can be placed on behalf of that executive at any time; the page does not state the number.Configure executive or executive assistant services for users · Introductory overview, note on concurrent calls · Checked 2026-10-02
- 19A custom call filter has a name, a schedule, a call source (any phone number, any internal, any external, or selected phone numbers) and an action to filter or not filter matching calls.Configure executive or executive assistant services for users · Procedure for configuring an executive, Custom Call Filter sub-steps · Checked 2026-10-02
- 20Since November 2025, users with shared lines can see in unified call history who answered or initiated a call on the shared line.What's new in Webex Calling · Entry dated November 19, 2025, Unified Call History for multiple lines and shared records for delegates · Checked 2026-10-02
- 21An executive selects assistants from a pool of users who have already been assigned the executive assistant service, and an assistant can serve more than one executive.Configure executive or executive assistant services for users · Introductory overview · Checked 2026-10-02
- 22Executives can turn call filtering on with feature access code #61 and off with #62.Executive and Executive Assistant Feature Access Codes · Table rows #61 and #62 · Checked 2026-10-02
- 23Assistants use feature access code #63 (Executive-Assistant Call Push), followed by additional digits, to push a call to the executive.Executive and Executive Assistant Feature Access Codes · Table row #63 · Checked 2026-10-02
- 24Assistants use feature access code #64 (Executive-Assistant Initiate Call), followed by additional digits, to place calls on behalf of the executive.Executive and Executive Assistant Feature Access Codes · Table row #64 · Checked 2026-10-02
- 25Assistants opt in with #65 (alone, to be prompted for the executive's number, or followed by it) and opt out with #66.Executive and Executive Assistant Feature Access Codes · Table rows #65 and #66 · Checked 2026-10-02
- 26The executive and assistant feature access codes work only from the primary IP phone assigned to the user.Executive and Executive Assistant Feature Access Codes · Introductory note above the table · Checked 2026-10-02
- 27Executive call filtering offers four choices: All External Calls, All Internal Calls, All Calls, and Custom Call Filter.Configure executive or executive assistant services for users · Procedure for configuring an executive, Call filtering step · Checked 2026-10-02
- 28For an executive assistant, the administrator can check Forward filtered calls and enter a phone number to send the assistant's filtered executive calls to another destination.Configure executive or executive assistant services for users · Procedure for configuring an executive assistant, Forward filtered calls step · Checked 2026-10-02
- 29Shared lines alone give the assistant visibility of and access to the executive's line but none of the executive-assistant filtering, alerting-mode, rollover or opt-in controls, so a reader who needs selective screening needs the executive-assistant feature.inferredConfigure executive or executive assistant services for users · Executive configuration procedure compared with njxdvzv and n9r1aac shared-line procedures · Checked 2026-10-02
- 30Because the executive-assistant feature access codes only work from the user's primary IP phone, an assistant or executive with only Webex App cannot rely on them and must use User Hub or the app instead.inferredExecutive and Executive Assistant Feature Access Codes · Introductory note above the table · Checked 2026-10-02
- 31A location administrator sees only executives in their assigned locations and can add only users from those locations as executive assistants.Configure executive or executive assistant services for users · Note for location administrators · Checked 2026-10-02
- 32With Location To Ring turned on, filtered calls also alert the executive's other locations: Single Number Reach (Office Anywhere), the mobility location, and shared call appearance locations.Configure executive or executive assistant services for users · Procedure for configuring an executive, Location To Ring step · Checked 2026-10-02
- 33The Cisco MPP desk phone administration guide states that only the Cisco IP Phone 6871 supports the Executive and Assistant menu on a line key.Cisco IP Desk Phone with Multiplatform Firmware Administration Guide - Call Features Configuration · Call Features Configuration chapter, Executive and Assistant cross-reference note · Checked 2026-10-02
- 34An assistant added to an executive is opted in by default; unchecking the opt-in box for that assistant stops them handling the executive's calls.Configure executive or executive assistant services for users · Procedure for configuring an executive, assistant table opt-in column · Checked 2026-10-02
- 35In Webex Calling, both the executive and the executive assistant must have phone numbers assigned, not only extensions.Configure executive or executive assistant services for users · Introductory section, requirements note · Checked 2026-10-02
- 36The Executive and Executive Assistant features are available only with the Webex Calling Professional user license; Professional workspace, Standard and Workspace licenses do not include them.Features available by license type for Webex Calling · Feature table, rows Executive and Executive Assistant · Checked 2026-10-02
- 37The Location To Ring alert type is either Silent or Ring Splash.Configure executive or executive assistant services for users · Procedure for configuring an executive, Location To Ring step, Alert Type · Checked 2026-10-02
- 38Unanswered filtered calls can roll over to the executive's voicemail, forward to a specified number after a delay in seconds, or have no action taken.Configure executive or executive assistant services for users · Procedure for configuring an executive, unanswered call (rollover) step · Checked 2026-10-02
- 39When sequential alerting is selected, the number of rings before the call moves to the next assistant can be set.Configure executive or executive assistant services for users · Procedure for configuring an executive, Alerting mode step · Checked 2026-10-02
- 40Executives can add assistants, filter calls, set ring options and caller ID themselves in the user portal, and changes there are reflected in Control Hub and vice versa.Configure executive or executive assistant services for users · Note on user portal configuration · Checked 2026-10-02
- 42Cisco presents an administrative assistant screening calls on a shared line with their supervisor as a primary shared-line use case.Work with a shared line on your phone · Introductory section, example use case · Checked 2026-10-02
- 43On a 9800 Series shared line, a user can barge into an active call on the shared line, which turns it into a three-way conference.Work with a shared line on your phone · Section on adding yourself to a call on a shared line (Barge) · Checked 2026-10-02
- 44An administrator adds a shared line to a phone in Control Hub at Users or Workspaces > device > Configure Lines, picking any Calling-enabled user or workspace with available Shared Call Appearances and assigning a line index.Configure and manage Webex Calling devices · Section Configure Lines, add and reorder lines · Checked 2026-10-02
- 45A shared phone number can appear on at most 35 devices.Work with a shared line on your phone · Introductory section on shared lines · Checked 2026-10-02
- 46Since February 2025, Webex Calling allows multiple appearances of one user's shared line or virtual line on the same device.What's new in Webex Calling · Entry dated February 28, 2025 · Checked 2026-10-02
- 47On a 9800 Series shared line, private hold stops coworkers resuming the held call, and the line shows Shared - Active, Shared - On hold or Shared - Private status.Work with a shared line on your phone · Sections on hold and private hold, and shared line status · Checked 2026-10-02
- 48Shared line appearance can be used together with the executive service when the executive and assistants are in the same location.Configure executive or executive assistant services for users · Note on shared line appearance with the executive service · Checked 2026-10-02
- 49The user's or workspace's Shared Call Appearance limit may cap how many appearances can be assigned, and the primary user on line 1 cannot be removed.Configure and manage Webex Calling devices · Section Configure Lines, notes · Checked 2026-10-02
- 50Executives and assistants manage their own executive-assistant settings in User Hub under Settings > Calling > Call settings, once the administrator has enabled the service.Configure and manage executive and executive assistant services · Executive section and Executive assistant section, navigation steps · Checked 2026-10-02
- 51Virtual lines cannot be assigned to executive or executive-assistant functions.Multi line support in Webex Calling using virtual lines · Limitations · Checked 2026-09-25
- 52An individual user's Webex Calling license is changed in Control Hub at Users > select user > Summary > Licenses > Edit Licenses, then selecting the subscription to add or remove and saving.Edit service licenses in Control Hub for individual users · section: Edit user service details · Checked 2026-09-05
- 53If an error appears when opening a user's Calling settings immediately after a Calling license is added, the documented remediation is to remove the license and reassign it.Edit service licenses in Control Hub for individual users · section: Edit user service details, troubleshooting note · Checked 2026-09-05
- 54Per-user Webex Calling license assignment is verified by exporting the user CSV from Control Hub, and per-workspace assignment by exporting the workspace CSV and reading the Calling column.Verify Webex Calling License Usage · section: Verification Methods by License Type, Users and Workspaces subsections · Checked 2026-09-05
- 55A shared line publishes paired statuses so each party can see when the line is active, on hold or alerting, and an alerting shared line is shown even when the local phone is set to do not disturb.Work with a shared line on your phone · Work with a shared line on your phone, status list · Checked 2026-09-05
- 56A coworker can join a call in progress on a shared line with a barge softkey, which converts the call to a three-way conference, and the capability is gated by an administrator-configured barge feature.Work with a shared line on your phone · Work with a shared line on your phone, barge · Checked 2026-09-05
- 57In Webex App, users can change the active line for outgoing calls, for example to call from a front desk line or from a line with a different caller ID.Webex App | Multiple lines · Change the active line · Checked 2026-09-25
- 58On Webex Calling, the end-user Webex App article says a user can have one primary line and up to nine shared lines, and that the administrator can also configure dedicated virtual lines.Webex App | Multiple lines · Multiple lines overview · Checked 2026-09-25
Documents
Cisco IP Desk Phone with Multiplatform Firmware Administration Guide - Call Features Configuration
Configure and manage executive and executive assistant services
Configure and manage Webex Calling devices
Configure executive or executive assistant services for users
Edit service licenses in Control Hub for individual users
Executive and Executive Assistant Feature Access Codes
Features available by license type for Webex Calling
Handle your manager's calls in Webex App
Multi line support in Webex Calling using virtual lines
Shared line appearance for Webex App
Supported calling options in Webex App
Verify Webex Calling License Usage
Webex App | Multiple lines
Webex App | View call history
What's new in Webex Calling
Work with a shared line on your phone
Work with a shared line on your phone
Cite this page
APA
WarmTransfer. (2026, October 2). Setting up executive and assistant call handling in Webex Calling. WarmTransfer. https://warmtransfer.net/guides/webex-calling-executive-assistant-setup
BibTeX
@misc{warmtransfer-webex-calling-executive-assistant-setup,
title = {Setting up executive and assistant call handling in Webex Calling},
author = {{WarmTransfer}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://warmtransfer.net/guides/webex-calling-executive-assistant-setup},
note = {Verified 2026-10-02}
}