MICHAEL J. ROWNY JOINS CIENA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

8/19/2004–CIENA® Corporation announced that Michael J. Rowny, chairman of Rowny Capital and former president and CEO of MCI's International Ventures, Alliances and Correspondent group, has joined CIENA's board of directors as its tenth member and eighth independent director.
 
His extensive career has included positions as executive vice president, CFO and Director of ICF Kaiser International; Chairman and CEO of Ransohoff Company; CEO of Hermitage Holding Company; Vice President, Strategic Planning and Ventures of The Bendix Corporation; Deputy Staff Director for The White House; Assistant to the Ambassador for U.S. Trade Negotiations and Professional Staff Member for the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.

Rowny currently serves as Chairman of the board of directors for Step 9 Software Corporation and as a member of the board of directors of Intelliden.