Gary B. Smith is the CEO of Ciena Corporation, a leading global networking systems and services company. He joined Ciena in 1997 and became CEO in 2001. With a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland, Gary has...

Gary B. Smith is the CEO of Ciena Corporation, a leading global networking systems and services company. He joined Ciena in 1997 and became CEO in 2001. With a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland, Gary has a solid background in engineering which has helped him drive the company’s innovative technology strategies. Ciena focuses on solutions that support faster and more reliable internet communications, including applications for 5G networks. Under Gary's leadership, Ciena has experienced significant growth, achieving impressive financial results year after year. Interesting to note, in 2019, Gary executed insider trades worth around $21 million, signaling his confidence in the company’s performance. His compensation reflects this performance too; for example, in 2017, he earned over $7.6 million, driven largely by stock awards that demonstrate the company's commitment to rewarding leadership that meets its ambitious goals.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Ciena CEOs

C

Gary B. Smith

Ex-CEO of Ciena

Education

Bachelor's degree in Economics from Imperial College London

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Technology

Born

March 1, 1960 - 65 years ago

CEO of Ciena for

23 years 4 months (May 2001 - Sep 2024)

Previous Experience

President and COO of Ciena

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Gary B. Smith

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Alan Lowe

CEO of Lumentum Holdings Inc.

2018 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$734.62K

Bonus

$5.03M

Other

$4.00K

Total Holdings

$25.85M

A

Richard Adam Norwitt

CEO of Amphenol

2023 Compensation

Stock

$9.10M

Salary

$1.46M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$382.12K

Total Holdings

$117.28M

A

Jayshree Ullal

CEO of Arista Networks

2023 Compensation

Stock

$15.05M

Salary

$300.00K

Bonus

$200.00K

Other

$10.40K

Total Holdings

$3.15B

Holdings

See how much did Gary B. Smith make over time.

Gary B. Smith has significant holdings in Ciena Corporation, with substantial insider trades taking place over the years. In September 2019, his holdings were valued at approximately $17.53 million, which increased to about $32.69 million by January 2022, illustrating a...

Gary B. Smith has significant holdings in Ciena Corporation, with substantial insider trades taking place over the years. In September 2019, his holdings were valued at approximately $17.53 million, which increased to about $32.69 million by January 2022, illustrating a positive trend in confidence about Ciena's trajectory. His trades occasionally fluctuated, hitting a peak of around $30 million in December 2021 before slightly declining to about $18.44 million by August 2023. This fluctuation in holdings reflects both his ongoing investment in the company and the market conditions related to Ciena's performance. Gary's financial moves are closely watched as they often indicate his perspective on the company's immediate future.

Total Stock Sold

$75.37M

CIEN

$75.37M

2,474,203 CIEN shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Gary B. Smith didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra CIEN2,474,203 shares worth $112.95M.
This is 49.86% and $37.58M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Gary B. Smith.

CIEN

$443.21K

CIEN at $65.18/share

Mar 17, 2025

Sale

CIEN

$1.04M

CIEN at $76.41/share

Mar 3, 2025

Sale

CIEN

$607.87K

CIEN at $89.39/share

Feb 18, 2025

Sale

CIEN

$577.07K

CIEN at $84.86/share

Feb 3, 2025

Sale

CIEN

$579.98K

CIEN at $85.29/share

Jan 15, 2025

Sale

CIEN

$1.14M

CIEN at $83.66/share

Jan 2, 2025

Sale

CIEN

128,676 shares

CIEN

Dec 17, 2024

Received

CIEN

$199.93K

CIEN at $47.99/share

Jun 3, 2024

Sale

CIEN

$204.81K

CIEN at $49.16/share

May 15, 2024

Sale

CIEN

$194.37K

CIEN at $46.66/share

May 1, 2024

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did Gary B. Smith make over time.

Gary B. Smith’s compensation has demonstrated strong alignment with Ciena’s performance. In 2017, he earned a total of $7.6 million, which included a base salary of $900,000 and bonuses based on meeting the company's aggressive financial goals. His compensation package also featured a substantial portion in vested stock units worth around $5.6 million. Over recent years, Gary’s pay package has reflected not only his leadership but also the company's goals and growth metrics, promoting a strong connection between CEO performance and shareholder value. This structure ensures that Gary is rewarded for delivering results and driving innovation at Ciena.

Year

2017

Total Compensation

$7.64M

Salary

$900.00K

Board Justification

Ciena's compensation philosophy focuses on attracting and retaining top talent, aligning executive compensation with stockholder interests, and promoting a pay-for-performance culture.

Bonus

$1.13M

Board Justification

Based on performance against aggressive fiscal 2017 objectives, NEOs received bonuses at 100% of target.

Other

$17.95K

Board Justification

Includes 401(k) matching contributions and other benefits.

Restricted Stock

$5.59M(236.06K RSU)

Board Justification

236,060 shares of RSUs vested in 2017, reflecting the performance and service requirements met during the year.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics for bonuses included achieving aggressive fiscal 2017 objectives, with specific financial and operational goals.

Other Ciena CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Ciena

Mary Jane Smith

CEO of Ciena

September 2024 - Present