January 25, 2002 -- CIENA Corporation, a global provider of intelligent optical networking systems and software increased its European commitment by opening a state-of-the-art 6,000 sq. ft. customer demonstration facility in London, and adding several executives to the regional management team.
Live simulations of end-to-end intelligent optical network provisioning for customers will be held in the demo lab located in the company's European headquarters. The lab houses a fully operational open-architecture network that will also be used to demonstrate interoperability with third party equipment. CIENA plans to open four dedicated training units at the facility and will offer hands-on classes to further demonstrate the economic and performance benefits of intelligent optical networking.
Regional appointments include Steve Whipps, vice president of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) sales, formerly of Cisco Systems. Whipps will spearhead and coordinate CIENA's sales efforts in the European markets as vice president of EMEA sales. He will direct his team in educating the marketplace about optical networking and attracting leading service providers to the benefits of CIENA's next-generation equipment.
The new European team also includes Justo Montero, director-general, southern Europe; formerly managing director of Spain for Nortel Networks; and Bernard Plaisant, global account director; formerly a global vice president at Nortel Networks.