Approved Board Resolutions | Special Meeting of the ICANN Board 22 October 2011

* Note: Where available, draft Rationale of the Board's actions is presented under the associated Resolution. The draft Rationale is not final until approved with the minutes of the Board meeting.

  1. Membership of Board-Governmental Advisory Committee Working Group
  2. Officer Compensation
  3. Approval of Ombudsman Objectives
  4. Approval of CEO Objectives

 

  1. Membership of Board-Governmental Advisory Committee Working Group

    Whereas after review of the public comment on the Final Report of the Board-GAC Joint Working Group (JWG), the Board agreed that the recommendations within the Final Report should be implemented in complement to the GAC-related recommendations from the Accountability and Transparency Review Team (ATRT).

    Whereas the Board and the GAC have continued work to do to oversee the implementation the recommendations in the Final Report and the GAC-related recommendations from ATRT.

    Whereas the JWG was previously tasked with the oversight of the GAC-related recommendations from the ATRT.

    Whereas the JWG was dissolved after the Board received the Final Report.

    Whereas on 17 September 2011 the Board directed the Board Governance Committee to recommend the composition of a working group to lead the Board’s coordination with the GAC on the implementation of the JWG recommendations and the GAC-related recommendations from the ATRT.

    Whereas, the Board Governance Committee recommended that the Board establish the working group, consisting of the following persons:

    Chris Disspain

    Bill Graham – Co-Chair (with GAC-identified Co-Chair)

    Bertrand de La Chapelle

    Ram Mohan

    Ray Plzak

    Mike Silber

    Judith Vazquez

    Resolved (2011.10.22.01), the Board approves the recommended membership of the Board GAC Recommendation Implementation Working Group.

    Rationale for Resolution 2011.10.28.01

    Implementing recommendations from both the Board-GAC Joint Working Group and the Accountability and Transparency Review Team is important to enhancing the relationship between the Board and the GAC and the accountability and transparency of both.  This working group provides a formal mechanism to oversee the implementation of the recommendations.  As required for assessment within the Affirmation of Commitments, there is no security and stability impact on the DNS nor any affect on ICANN’s fiscal resources as a result of this action.

  2. Officer Compensation

    Whereas, the retention of high calibre staff is essential to ICANN’s operations and ICANN desires to ensure competitive compensation for staff.

    Whereas, Akram Atallah, as the COO, and John Jeffrey, as the General Counsel and Secretary, are each considered critical to the successful continuity of the organization, including key projects that are currently underway.

    Whereas, independent market data provided by outside compensation consultants indicates that current compensation for both Akram Atallah and John Jeffrey is below ICANN’s target of the 50th to 75th percentile of relevant comparable organizations.

    Whereas, the Compensation Committee has reviewed the independent market data and has recommended that the Board pass these resolutions.

    Resolved (2011.10.22.02), the Board authorizes the CEO to make compensation adjustments (effective 1 September 2011) for Akram Atallah, Chief Operating Officer in accordance with the independent study on comparable compensation received, subject to a limitation that his annual base salary shall not increase by more than 15% per annum from its current rate.

    Resolved (2011.10.22.03), the Board authorizes the CEO to make compensation adjustments (effective 1 September 2011) for John Jeffrey, General Counsel and Secretary in accordance with the independent study on comparable compensation received, subject to a limitation that his annual base salary shall not increase by more than 15% per annum from its current rate.

    The Board also conducted a confidential portion of the meeting during which it passed other resolutions (2011.10.22.C1 and 2011.10.22.C2) that shall remain confidential as an “action relating to personnel or employment matters”, pursuant to Article III, section 5.2 of the ICANN Bylaws.

    Rationale for Resolutions 2011.10.22.02 – 2011.10.22.03

    Attracting and retaining high calibre staff by providing a competitive compensation package is crucial to the organization.  An improving job market will make more opportunities available for high calibre performers outside of ICANN.  ICANN has consulted with independent compensation experts to obtain comparable market data, which indicates that some current officers are earning less than market rates, i.e. what they could earn at another employer.

    ICANN is in a critical transition phase that calls for continuity of certain skill and expertise, particularly with ongoing key projects including new gTLDs, Affirmation of Commitments reviews, expanding compliance, and globalization, among many others.  Each of these projects requires knowledgeable and skilled executives to ensure ICANN’s operational goals and objectives are met while ensuring that risk is mitigated to the greatest extent possible.  Adhering to ICANN’s employment philosophy and providing competitive compensation will help ensure these goals are achieved.

    Continuity and retention of key personnel during key organization transition phases is beneficial to all aspects of the organization.  Thus, the salary adjustments called for in these resolutions likely will have a positive impact on the organization and its effort to serve the public interest, as well as on the transparency and accountability of the organization.  There will be some fiscal impact to the organization, but that impact will not have an effect on the overall current fiscal year budget.  These resolutions will not have any direct impact on the security, stability and resiliency of the domain name system.

  3. Approval of Ombudsman Objectives

    Whereas, on 28 July 2011, the Board appointed Chris LaHatte as ICANN’s new Ombudsman.

    Whereas, the Ombudsman reports directly to the Board.

    Whereas, the Compensation Committee has discussed a set of objectives with the Ombudsman that the Board expects the Ombudsman to work toward, in order to be entitled to all or any portion of the at-risk component of his compensation.

    Resolved (2011.10.22.04), the Board approves the set of objectives as discussed by the Compensation Committee for the Ombudsman to work toward in order to be entitled to all or any portion of the at-risk component of his compensation.

    Rationale for Resolution 2011.10.22.04

    Setting objectives to be measured against success for completion of goals of employment is a regular practice.  Placing a portion of compensation at-risk, conditioned upon meeting of objectives, is further recognized as a valuable tool in achieving those objectives.  The Board, through the Compensation Committee, has identified a set of objectives for the Ombudsman to meet to achieve, and will consider the extent of completion of those objectives when evaluating the performance of the Ombudsman and whether he should be entitled to any portion of the at-risk portion of his compensation.  As required for assessment within the Affirmation of Commitments, there is no security and stability impact on the DNS as a result of this action. The complete portion of the potential at-risk component of the Ombudsman’s compensation has been included within ICANN’s budget.

  4. Approval of CEO Objectives

    Whereas, on 26 June 2009, the Board appointed Rod Beckstrom as ICANN’s CEO and President.

    Whereas, the CEO reports directly to the Board.

    Whereas, the Compensation Committee has discussed a set of objectives with the CEO that the Board expects the CEO to work toward, in order to be entitled to all or any portion of the at-risk component of his compensation.

    Resolved (2011.10.22.05), the Board approves the set of objectives as discussed by the Compensation Committee for the CEO to work toward in order to be entitled to all or any portion of the at-risk component of his compensation.

    Rationale for Resolution 2011.10.22.05

    Setting objectives to be measured against success for completion of goals of employment is a regular practice.  Placing a portion of compensation at-risk, conditioned upon meeting of objectives, is further recognized as a valuable tool in achieving those objectives.  The Board, through the Compensation Committee, has identified a set of objectives for the CEO to meet to achieve, and will consider the extent of completion of those objectives when evaluating the performance of the CEO and whether he should be entitled to any portion of the at-risk portion of his compensation.  As required for assessment within the Affirmation of Commitments, there is no security and stability impact on the DNS as a result of this action.  The complete portion of the potential at-risk component of the CEO’s compensation has been included within ICANN’s budget.