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Howard Joins Ciena as Senior Vice President of Marketing; DuLong Named Chief Communications Officer

Ciena® Corporation (Nasdaq: CIEN), a leading global provider of intelligent service creation and delivery solutions, today announced that Laura Howard has joined the company as Senior Vice President of Marketing and that Suzanne DuLong, vice president, Investor Relations for Ciena, has been named Chief Communications Officer, both reporting directly to President and CEO Gary Smith.

Howard will be responsible for driving the market development and positioning of the company, its new identity, and expanded product families toward Ciena’s telco, cable, government and enterprise customers worldwide. Her background includes extensive work in high-tech marketing including leadership positions as Chief Marketing Officer of ProQuent, and Senior Vice President of Marketing for Ericsson Data Networking.

“Laura has strong and relevant experience in marketing with both data communications and telecommunications suppliers, including business challenges similar to those facing Ciena today,” said Smith. “This direct understanding of our business and our markets is key to driving sales and to the successful positioning of Ciena in the marketplace.”

DuLong will continue to have direct responsibility for investor relations in a new reporting relationship to Smith. In addition, Suzanne will oversee Ciena’s relationships and perception building of the company, its strategy and products with media, industry analysts, employees, the investment community and government regulators worldwide.

“We’ve established the position of Chief Communications Officer to strengthen and broaden Ciena’s commitment to communications with both our external and internal audiences,” said Smith. “Suzanne’s appointment to this new role ensures breadth and depth of knowledge and experience to lead Ciena’s perception building efforts. We are at the cusp of a new market position; Suzanne’s guidance brings credibility and integrity as we address our new marketplace.”

With more than 20 years of industry experience, Howard has been a catalyst in developing highly competitive market positioning for networking and communications companies.

As Chief Marketing Officer at ProQuent Systems, Howard held responsibility for marketing, product management and business development. Previously, she led worldwide marketing initiatives for Ericsson’s Data Networking Division, and was a key driver of the company’s push into the data networking market.

Additionally, Howard has held executive positions in marketing, product management and business development for Gotham Networks, 3Com Corporation, Shiva Corporation and Sun Microsystems.

Howard holds a BS degree in computer science from Southern New Hampshire University.

Since joining Ciena in June 1997, DuLong has led the Company’s investor relations efforts. In addition, she’s worked closely with Ciena’s executive team and marketing organization to develop, coordinate and execute the company’s corporate and strategic communications.

Before joining Ciena, DuLong was Manager, Investor Relations at Cascade Communications Corp. and previously was an account executive at Sharon Merrill Associates, a Boston-based corporate communications consulting firm where she worked with clients in the high-tech, retail, and financial services industries. Her 15 years of corporate communications experience also includes leadership roles in advertising and public relations.

DuLong holds a master's degree in business administration with a business communication concentration from Bentley College, Waltham, MA and a bachelor's degree in communications from Emerson College, Boston, MA.