John Dillon To Step Down As Ciena Director

Linthicum, MD — 02/04/2005

Ciena®Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), the network specialist, today announced that John Dillon, a member of its Board of Directors since 1999, will be stepping down for personal reasons following the Company’s next scheduled Board meeting in February, 2005.

“We are fortunate to have such a diverse and well-rounded Board of Directors, with a wealth of real business experience and financial acumen,” said Gary Smith, Ciena director, president and CEO. “In the last five years, John’s been an important part of that mix, and the Board is grateful for his contribution.”

Following Mr. Dillon’s departure, Ciena’s Board will consist of nine members, seven of whom are independent directors.


About Ciena

Ciena specializes in network transition. We provide the flexible platforms, intelligent software and professional services to build converged networks for enhanced services and applications. With a growing global presence, Ciena leverages its heritage of practical innovation to deliver maximum performance and economic value in communications networks worldwide. For more information, visit www.ciena.com.
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