Judith O'Brien Joins CIENA BoardJudith O'Brien Joins CIENA Board

LINTHICUM, MD--CIENA Corporation (Nasdaq: CIEN), today announced that Judith M. O'Brien, a partner with Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, has joined the Company's Board of Directors.

Mrs. O'Brien assumes the Class II director position on CIENA's Board held previously by Michael Zak. It was announced today that Mr. Zak, a General Partner with Charles River Ventures, an early venture capital investor in CIENA, will be stepping down from his role as Director effective today.

"We remain appreciative of Mike's numerous contributions to CIENA over the years and wish him the best in his continuing pursuit of venture capital opportunities," said Patrick Nettles, president and chief executive officer of CIENA of Mr. Zak's departure.

A partner since 1984, Mrs. O'Brien joined Wilson Sonsini in 1980. She specializes in corporate law, including corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate matters. Prior to joining Wilson Sonsini and becoming the firm's first woman partner, O'Brien practiced law at the Law Offices of Robert Gyemant in San Francisco and Ruffo, Ferrari & McNeil in San Jose.

http://www.ciena.com/news/archive/2000/07/07.18.2000pr.html