Ciena Appoints David Rothenstein as Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer

Rhea-AI Summary

Ciena Corporation announced key leadership changes aimed at enhancing its strategic direction. David M. Rothenstein has been promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, following nearly two decades as General Counsel. He will spearhead strategic planning, mergers, and acquisitions, while continuing to oversee sustainability efforts. Concurrently, Sheela Kosaraju has been elevated to Senior Vice President and General Counsel, managing global legal affairs since joining in 2010. These appointments are effective January 30, 2023, and reflect Ciena's commitment to strong leadership and market growth.

Positive

• Rothenstein’s extensive experience since 2001 positions him well to drive strategic initiatives.
• Kosaraju's promotion ensures continuity in legal leadership and aligns with the company’s global business strategy.

Negative

• None.

Promotes Sheela Kosaraju to Senior Vice President and General Counsel 

HANOVER, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ciena^® Corporation (NYSE: CIEN), a networking systems, services and software company, today announced the appointment of David M. Rothenstein as senior vice president, chief strategy officer and corporate secretary. Rothenstein has served as Ciena’s senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary since November 2008, and as acting chief strategy officer since March 2022. He will continue to report to President and CEO Gary Smith.

David Rothenstein, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer (Photo: Business Wire)

In his new role, Rothenstein will lead Ciena’s strategic planning and implementation processes, and guide differentiated growth through corporate development activities, including mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances and partnerships, and venture capital investments. He will also drive the future incubation of emerging solutions designed to optimize existing businesses or enter new markets. In addition, he will continue leading the company’s sustainability and enterprise risk management programs as well as the corporate real estate function, and will continue to serve in the role of corporate secretary.

“David is a seasoned strategist with deep industry and institutional experience, having played a critical role in Ciena’s success for more than two decades, including the design and implementation of many of Ciena’s transformative growth opportunities,” said Smith. “As Chief Strategy Officer, he will further contribute to our continued growth through the reinforcement of our market leadership and the expansion of our addressable market and share.”

Prior to joining Ciena in 2001, Rothenstein practiced corporate, employment and technology law as well as business litigation at the law firm of Paley Rothman. He earned his Juris Doctor degree with honors from The George Washington University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, from Tufts University.

Sheela Kosaraju Appointed as Senior Vice President and General Counsel

As part of the company’s leadership succession plan, Ciena concurrently promoted Sheela Kosaraju to senior vice president, general counsel and assistant secretary. Kosaraju joined Ciena in 2010 and has served as vice president, deputy general counsel and head of international legal since August 2020, and previously as vice president and associate general counsel. Prior to joining Ciena, Kosaraju was general counsel for two early-stage companies, HomeCom Communications and Closedloop Solutions.

In joining Ciena’s executive leadership team reporting to Smith, Kosaraju assumes responsibility for managing all of Ciena’s worldwide legal matters as well as for the company’s compliance and ethics program and government affairs activities.

“In her new role, Sheela will bring critical global perspectives to our executive leadership team, reflecting her proven track record at the company over many years as a leader on the legal team, particularly with respect to international business strategy,” said Smith.

Kosaraju received her Juris Doctor degree from Wake Forest University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree, in Mechanical Engineering and Engineering & Public Policy, graduating with engineering honors, from Carnegie Mellon University.

The leadership appointments of Rothenstein and Kosaraju are effective January 30, 2023.

About Ciena

Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) is a networking systems, services and software company. We provide solutions that help our customers create the Adaptive Network™ in response to the constantly changing demands of their end-users. By delivering best-in-class networking technology through high-touch consultative relationships, we build the world’s most agile networks with automation, openness and scale. For updates on Ciena, follow us on Twitter @Ciena, LinkedIn, the Ciena Insights blog, or visit www.ciena.com.

Note to Ciena Investors

You are encouraged to review the Investors section of our website, where we routinely post press releases, SEC filings, recent news, financial results, and other announcements. From time to time we exclusively post material information to this website along with other disclosure channels that we use. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are based on our current expectations, forecasts, information and assumptions. These statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those stated or implied, because of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in our most recent annual and quarterly reports filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies and can be identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," "will," and "would" or similar words. Ciena assumes no obligation to update the information included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230124005396/en/

Press Contact:

Jamie Moody

Ciena Corporation

+1 (214) 995-8035

pr@ciena.com



Investor Contact:

Gregg Lampf

Ciena Corporation

+1 (410) 694-5700

ir@ciena.com

Source: Ciena Corporation

FAQ

What recent leadership changes occurred at Ciena (CIEN)?

Ciena promoted David M. Rothenstein to Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, and Sheela Kosaraju to Senior Vice President and General Counsel.

When did the leadership changes at Ciena take effect?

The leadership changes are effective as of January 30, 2023.

What roles will David M. Rothenstein have in his new position at Ciena?

Rothenstein will lead strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, and oversee sustainability initiatives.

What will Sheela Kosaraju manage in her new role at Ciena?

Kosaraju will manage all worldwide legal matters and the company's compliance and ethics programs.

How long has David M. Rothenstein worked at Ciena?

Rothenstein has been with Ciena since 2001.

What is Sheela Kosaraju's background before joining Ciena?

Before Ciena, Kosaraju was general counsel for two early-stage companies: HomeCom Communications and Closedloop Solutions.