Gary Smith (Ciena CEO)
Encyclopedia
Gary B. Smith is a British-American business leader serving as president, chief executive officer and director of Ciena, a global supplier of next-generation telecommunications network
ing infrastructure that supports the "circulatory system" of the Internet.
During his tenure as CEO, Smith has led the acquisition of seven companies. Most recent is the acquisition of the Optical Networking and Carrier Ethernet assets of bankrupt Nortel
's Metro Ethernet Networks (MEN) for $774 million. This acquisition, which closed on March 19, 2010, doubled Ciena's size from around 2,100 to 4,000 employees and significantly increased total revenues.
Since the first full year of Smith's tenure as CEO, Ciena's revenues have gone from $361 million in fiscal year ended 2002 to $1,236.6 million in fiscal 2010.
In November 2011, Smith was interviewed by Light Reading about Ciena's acquisition history.
named Smith to its National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC). NSTAC's mission is to provide the President collaborative advice and expertise regarding telecommunications national security and emergency preparedness issues.
Smith is also a Commissioner of the Global Information Infrastructure Commission, a confederation of communications technology business executives engaged in telecommunications policy. In addition, he is a Broadband Ambassador to the Internet Innovation Alliance, a coalition of business and nonprofit leaders devoted to making broadband universally accessible.
Prior to joining Ciena in 1997, Smith served as Vice President for Sales and Marketing at Intelsat
, a global provider of fixed satellite services. He also previously served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Cray Communications, Inc.
Telecommunications network
A telecommunications network is a collection of terminals, links and nodes which connect together to enable telecommunication between users of the terminals. Networks may use circuit switching or message switching. Each terminal in the network must have a unique address so messages or connections...
ing infrastructure that supports the "circulatory system" of the Internet.
Ciena leadership and acquisitions
Smith joined Ciena in 1997 and has served as president and CEO since May 2001. He has served on Ciena’s Board of Directors since October 2000. Prior to serving as CEO, Smith served as Ciena's Chief Operating Officer; and prior to that, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales. Smith joined Ciena in November 1997 as Vice President, International Sales.During his tenure as CEO, Smith has led the acquisition of seven companies. Most recent is the acquisition of the Optical Networking and Carrier Ethernet assets of bankrupt Nortel
Nortel
Nortel Networks Corporation, formerly known as Northern Telecom Limited and sometimes known simply as Nortel, was a multinational telecommunications equipment manufacturer headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada...
's Metro Ethernet Networks (MEN) for $774 million. This acquisition, which closed on March 19, 2010, doubled Ciena's size from around 2,100 to 4,000 employees and significantly increased total revenues.
Since the first full year of Smith's tenure as CEO, Ciena's revenues have gone from $361 million in fiscal year ended 2002 to $1,236.6 million in fiscal 2010.
In November 2011, Smith was interviewed by Light Reading about Ciena's acquisition history.
National and nonprofit
In January 2011, the White HouseWhite House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
named Smith to its National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC). NSTAC's mission is to provide the President collaborative advice and expertise regarding telecommunications national security and emergency preparedness issues.
Smith is also a Commissioner of the Global Information Infrastructure Commission, a confederation of communications technology business executives engaged in telecommunications policy. In addition, he is a Broadband Ambassador to the Internet Innovation Alliance, a coalition of business and nonprofit leaders devoted to making broadband universally accessible.
Career history
Smith also serves as a Director of CommVault Systems, a provider of data and information management software applications and related services with a market capitalization of $2 billion. Smith has served as a director of CommVault since May 2004 and as lead director since May 2006.Prior to joining Ciena in 1997, Smith served as Vice President for Sales and Marketing at Intelsat
Intelsat
Intelsat, Ltd. is a communications satellite services provider.Originally formed as International Telecommunications Satellite Organization , it was—from 1964 to 2001—an intergovernmental consortium owning and managing a constellation of communications satellites providing international broadcast...
, a global provider of fixed satellite services. He also previously served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Cray Communications, Inc.