David Rothenstein is Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Ciena Corporation (NYSE: CIEN), a global leader in high-speed connectivity providing networking systems, software and services to a wide range of network operators. David is responsible for leading the company’s strategic planning process and enabling and implementing its corporate strategy. This includes driving differentiated growth through corporate development activities, such as mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships and venture capital investments, as well as through the future incubation of emerging market solutions designed to optimize existing businesses or enter new markets. He also leads Ciena’s sustainability and enterprise risk management programs, and serves as the company’s corporate secretary.

Previously, David served as Ciena’s Senior Vice President and General Counsel for over 14 years, in which capacity he managed all worldwide legal matters and led the compliance & ethics and government relations functions. Prior to joining Ciena in 2001, he practiced law as a principal at the law firm of Paley Rothman, where he concentrated his practice in the areas of corporate law, employment law, technology law and business litigation.

David holds a J.D. with honors from The George Washington University Law School and a B.A. magna cum laude from Tufts University. He currently serves on the board of directors of Lumiphase AG, and on the advisory council of American University’s Kogod School of Business.