# Michael Hatfield

> Michael L. Hatfield is a Petaluma-based entrepreneur who co-founded Cerent, Calix and Cyan. He was Calix’s founding CEO, later led Cyan as CEO and president, and became head of Ciena’s Blue Planet division following its 2015 acquisition of Cyan. A 1984 Rose-Hulman graduate with an Indiana University MBA, he has also supported campus facilities and alumni entrepreneurship.

- **Role:** Self-employed (as listed on his public LinkedIn profile)
- **Organizations:** Cerent, Calix, Cyan, Ciena / Blue Planet, Carium, Advanced Fibre Communications, DSC Communications, Ameritech, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Sawmill Angel Network
- **Education:** B.S., Electrical Engineering and Mathematical Economics, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, M.B.A., Finance, Indiana University, Kelley School of Business
- **Known for:** Co-founded Cerent, acquired by Cisco in 1999 in a stock transaction valued at approximately $6.9 billion when announced., Co-founded Calix and served as CEO through December 2002; Calix went public in March 2010., Co-founded Cyan, which went public in May 2013 and was acquired by Ciena in August 2015.

## Career timeline

- **1984** — Graduated from Rose-Hulman in electrical engineering and mathematical economics.
- **1987** — Earned his Indiana University MBA.
- **Before Calix** — Held management roles at Ameritech and DSC Communications; was an early employee and vice president of marketing at Advanced Fibre Communications; co-founded Cerent and served as COO.
- **1999** — Co-founded Calix and served as its founding CEO. Cisco announced its Cerent acquisition at approximately $6.9 billion in stock and completed the deal in November.
- **2002** — Moved from Calix CEO to chief strategy officer in December. Hatfield Hall opened at Rose-Hulman, supported by Michael and Deborah Hatfield.
- **2003** — Indiana Venture Center launched with $3 million in funding from Hatfield, according to Kelley’s Spring 2004 history.
- **2006** — Co-founded Cyan in October and became CEO, president and director.
- **2012** — Mark Floyd became Cyan CEO in May; Hatfield remained president.
- **2013** — Participated in Cyan’s May 9 NYSE IPO celebration as founder and president.
- **2015** — Became Ciena senior vice president leading Blue Planet following the August 3 Cyan acquisition.
- **2021** — Identified by Rose-Hulman as Carium co-founder and executive chairman and a Sawmill Society member.
- **2024** — Called for more investment-worthy alumni startup proposals and interviewed Chere Cofer at the December 5 Invest In Women Founders Summit.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Cerent, acquired by Cisco in 1999 in a stock transaction valued at approximately $6.9 billion when announced.
- Co-founded Calix and served as CEO through December 2002; Calix went public in March 2010.
- Co-founded Cyan, which went public in May 2013 and was acquired by Ciena in August 2015.
- Appointed to lead Ciena’s Blue Planet software division in 2015.
- With Deborah Hatfield, funded Rose-Hulman’s Hatfield Hall through a $14 million gift.
- Provided $3 million for the launch of Indiana Venture Center in 2003.

## Latest updates

- **2024-12** — Interviewed Chere Cofer at The Startup Ladies’ Invest In Women Founders Summit in Indianapolis on December 5.
- **2024-05** — As a Sawmill Angel Network member, encouraged alumni to bring forward investment-worthy startup proposals.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-hatfield-45a7554

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/michael-hatfield
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21