Ciena appoints Lawton Fitt as independent Chair

Ciena (CIEN) announced the appointment of Lawton W. Fitt as independent Chair of Ciena’s Board of Directors, effective December 11, . Concurrently, Patrick H. Nettles, Ph.D., stepped down as Executive Chair, in connection with his decision not to stand for re-election at the end of his term at Ciena’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, at which time he will retire. Dr. Nettles will continue in his role as a member of Ciena’s Board of Directors until that time and provide support to Ms. Fitt in her transition. Lawton W. Fitt brings significant professional experience as well as a deep familiarity with Ciena’s strategy, business, and technology. She has served as a Director of Ciena since November 2000, and as chair of Ciena’s Audit Committee from October 2004 through the end of December 2024. From October 2002 to March 2005, Ms. Fitt served as Director of the Royal Academy of Arts in London. From 1979 to October 2002, Ms. Fitt was an investment banker with Goldman Sachs & Co., where she was a partner from 1994, and a managing director from 1996 to October 2002. Ms. Fitt holds a bachelor of arts degree from Brown University and a M.B.A. degree from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. She also currently serves on the board of directors of The Carlyle Group, L.P. and The Progressive Corporation, and previously of Thomson Reuters.