Smith: Innovative woman ready to accelerate the brand’s market momentum

Rebecca

Concurrently, Ciena named Rebecca Smith to succeed Cumello in the role of Senior Vice President, Global Marketing & Communications. Smith is being promoted to her new position after serving since 2017 as Ciena’s Vice President, Global Portfolio and Programs Marketing, leading the company’s product, solution and vertical marketing strategies, driving global campaigns, and overseeing the market and competitive intelligence team.

Joining Ciena’s executive leadership team, Smith assumes global responsibility for articulating Ciena’s value proposition, advancing the company’s brand and thought leadership platforms, and driving engagement across key stakeholder groups, including customers, partners and employees.

With more than 25 years of industry experience, Smith previously held senior customer-facing roles within Amdocs, including Vice President of Sales for its North American Division and Vice President of Product and Solutions Marketing, where she cultivated go-to-market strategies across Amdocs’s portfolio. She holds an MBA and BA in Economics from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

Gary Smith commented: “Having worked under Joe’s leadership for several years and directly with our go-to-market teams as well as customers around the world, Rebecca is well-suited to continue leading our global marketing strategy to bring innovation to our brand and accelerate our market momentum.”

Ciena concurrently promoted Sheela Kosaraju to senior vice president, general counsel, and assistant secretary as part of the company’s leadership succession plan. Kosaraju joined Ciena in 2010 and is currently vice president, deputy general counsel, and head of international legal, having previously served as vice president and associate general counsel. Kosaraju previously served as general counsel for two early-stage companies, HomeCom Communications and Closedloop Solutions.

Sheela Kosaraju: Highcaliber leader turns to Senior Vice President of Ciena

Kosaraju joins Ciena’s executive leadership team and reports to Smith. He is responsible for managing all of Ciena’s global legal matters, as well as the company’s compliance and ethics program and government affairs activities.

“In her new role, Sheela will bring critical global perspectives to our executive leadership team, reflecting her proven track record at the company over many years as a leader on the legal team, particularly with respect to international business strategy,” said Smith.

Kosaraju earned a Juris Doctor degree from Wake Forest University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and Engineering & Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University, where she graduated with engineering honors.

David M. Rothenstein has been named senior vice president, chief strategy officer, and corporate secretary at Ciena Corporation, a networking systems, services, and software company. Since November 2008, Rothenstein has served as Ciena’s senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary, and as acting chief strategy officer since March 2022. He will continue to report to Gary Smith, President and CEO.

Rothenstein will oversee Ciena’s strategic planning and implementation processes, as well as guide differentiated growth through corporate development activities such as mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances and partnerships, and venture capital investments, in his new role. He will also be in charge of future incubation of emerging solutions aimed at optimizing existing businesses or entering new markets. He will also continue to lead the company’s sustainability and enterprise risk management programs, as well as the corporate real estate function, and will serve as corporate secretary.

“David is a seasoned strategist with deep industry and institutional experience, having played a critical role in Ciena’s success for more than two decades, including the design and implementation of many of Ciena’s transformative growth opportunities,” said Smith. “As Chief Strategy Officer, he will further contribute to our continued growth through the reinforcement of our market leadership and the expansion of our addressable market and share.”

Prior to joining Ciena in 2001, Rothenstein worked at the law firm Paley Rothman, where he practiced corporate, employment, and technology law, as well as business litigation. He graduated from The George Washington University Law School with honors and from Tufts University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude.

Tara Rose Kidd Founder & Director of Tara Rose Salon

Tara Rose Kidd is the Founder of Tara Rose Salons and Training Academy, a salon educator, entrepreneurial outlier and advocate for empowerment.

After launching her career as a hairdresser in the UK, Tara found herself seeking greater direction and purpose. Her quest brought her to Abu Dhabi and ultimately, to a villa where she launched the first Tara Rose Salon. Not long afterwards, Tara was introduced to ideas from positive psychology and self-help, which further inspired her to take control of her destiny and manifest her dreams.

A well-known and revered figure in the UAE’s thriving beauty scene, Tara is steadily growing her enterprise to four salons, and a fifth on the way, with 60+ staff over the past seven years. Tara firmly believes that business is not just about profit, it is about self-empowerment for both clients and staff. She sees her people as her greatest business asset and believes investing in them brings out their full potential while motivating them to achieve. Recently she has taken her philosophy to the next level, not only by offering great client service and valuable employment but also by inspiring her team to evolve.

Tara’s appetite for risk, creativity, and growth drives her to innovate continually. With the opening of her Tara Rose Academy, she has introduced a game-changer in the region. This online academy not only focuses on the hairdressing skills that salon professionals need, but also on business skills for front and back of house, mental health and lifestyle design — a truly 360 educational approach.

Tara knows first-hand that being part of a community helps people grow quickly by drawing ideas and inspiration from one another. She also believes that with plenty of ambition and talent, the right mindset, and a great work ethic — combined with deep trust in the process

— anyone can turn their lives around and make an impact.

She is passionate about inspiring women and men to shift their mindsets to believe that they are capable and nurture the parts of themselves that shine most. Her passion is to create environments that bring out the best in her clients and her teams.

Some further accolades for Tara this year have seen her win several awards including the Business Director of the Year Award by Professional Beauty GCC two years in a row and Global Hair Personality Award by Hall of Wellness.

Tara speaks frequently at motivational events in her own salons and is also a sought-after speaker for beauty industry events, entrepreneurial gatherings, self-empowerment workshops and personal development seminars.

Chef Bayma inherited her passion for cooking form her fiery Sicilian and Brazilian grandmothers as she took to the kitchen at just 13 years of age.

Her curiousity and love of food has taken her throughout the culinary industry, working as Executive Chef, Catering Chef and Consultant for renowned hotels, resorts, private yachts, and residences. With over 20 years hospitality experience, Chef Vanessa Bayma decided to establish her consulting and events firm – CBC Consultancy and Events in collaboration with TPHQ Events Management, based in the UAE and KSA.

Always on the lookout for new things and never one to shy away from a culinary challenge, Chef Bayma provides everything from concept,