Ciena, a global software company, announced the appointment of Chris Bayly as Managing Director of Saudi Arabia on May 16, 2024. 

In his new role, Chris brings over three decades of leadership experience across telecommunications and software technology industries. He is responsible for driving the company's regional strategy and business operations. Prior to his appointment, he worked with Aqua Comms as the Chief Commercial Officer. In previous roles, he served Colt Technology Services as the Director of Network Infrastructure Sales, APTelecom as the Vice President of Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Global Cloud Xchange as the Senior VP for the Middle East and Africa region. He also worked with WorldCom International, AMP Inc., and Nortel Networks at the beginning of his career. 

On the academic front, Chris holds a BA (Hons.) degree from the University of the West of England and is a certified accountant from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. 

Welcoming Chris to the leadership team, Virginie Hollebecque, Vice President and Leader of Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Ciena, said, “The Middle East region is an important market for Ciena, especially with the exciting opportunities presented by the Saudi Vision 2030 national agenda. With Chris’s strong leadership and deep-rooted knowledge of the industry, we are confident in continuing our momentum in the region while supporting this pivotal time in Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation journey.”

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Chris added, “Joining Ciena during a time when the company is aligning its cutting-edge networking solutions with Saudi’s transformative plans is a privilege. Drawing on decades of regional industry insight, I look forward to expanding Ciena’s relationships with customers in the region. My focus will be to support Ciena's mission of enabling a connected and thriving digital economy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

Announcing his new role on LinkedIn, Chris posted, "I am excited to share that I have taken on a new role as the MD for Ciena in Saudi Arabia. This key position plays a crucial role in our regional strategy. Saudi Arabia is rapidly emerging as a high-potential growth market, especially in the realm of data center and hyperscaler investments. The country is in the midst of a swift transformation under its Vision 2030 plan, which aims to expand new strategic corridors and digital content, strengthen the private sector, enhance employment opportunities, and foster foreign investment. I am thrilled to be part of this journey and look forward to contributing to the growth and success of Ciena in this dynamic market.”