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Nominating Committee Announces Final Selections For Key Leadership Positions within ICANN

7 October 2004

After an intense period of outreach, consultation, recruitment, and evaluation, the Nominating Committee (NomCom) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced today its final selection of four 'slates' of Nominees for four of ICANN's leadership bodies: the Board of Directors, the Council of the Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO),  the Council of the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) and the Interim At Large Advisory Committee (ALAC). The Nominees will join the already seated members of these bodies at the conclusion of the ICANN Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, December 1 - 5.

ICANN is a non-profit organization responsible for coordinating the global Internet's systems of unique identifiers, including the systems of domain names and numeric addresses that are used to reach all computers on the Internet. ICANN's mission is to ensure the stable and secure operation of these unique identifier systems, which are vital to the Internet's operation.  In addition, ICANN coordinates policy development related to these technical functions.

"We are very pleased that so many excellent Candidates from all five geographic regions participated in this second NomCom Process," said Nominating Committee Chair and spokesperson Jean-Jacques Damlamian. "This global participation reflects the Internet community's impressive array of talent, experience, and willingness to undertake these volunteer leadership roles essential to ICANN's evolution and performance goals."

The Nominees:

ICANN Board

  Vinton G. Cerf  (U.S.A. - North America)
  Joichi Ito (Japan - Asia/Australia/Pacific)
  Vanda Scartezini (Brazil - Latin America/Caribbean Islands)

Terms: Conclusion of ICANN Annual Meeting for 2004 until conclusion of ICANN Annual Meeting for 2007

ccNSO Council

  Yassin Mshana (Tanzania - Africa)

Term: Conclusion of ICANN Annual Meeting for 2004 until conclusion of ICANN Annual Meeting for 2005

  Eva Frölich (Sweden - Europe)

Term: Conclusion of ICANN Annual Meeting for 2004 until conclusion of ICANN Annual Meeting for 2006

  Charles Shaban (Jordan - Asia/Australia/Pacific)

Term:  Conclusion of ICANN Annual Meeting for 2004 until conclusion of ICANN Annual Meeting for 2007

GNSO Council

  Maureen Cubberley (Canada - North America)

Term: Conclusion of ICANN Annual Meeting for 2004 until conclusion of ICANN Annual Meeting for 2006

Interim At Large Advisory Committee

  Roberto Gaetano (Italy - Europe)
  Jean Armour Polly (U.S.A. - North America)

Terms:  Conclusion of ICANN Annual Meeting for 2004 until conclusion of ICANN Annual Meeting for 2006

Biographical information on the Nominees will soon be posted on the NomCom web page. http://nomcom.icann.org/

In response to its June 30th Formal Call, the NomCom received 102 recommendations of potential candidates from all over the world. Out of 84 individuals who subsequently submitted a Statement of Interest, NomCom selected 9 outstanding individuals for staggered terms in these leadership roles in ICANN. The terms range from twelve to thirty-six months in length. Three individuals were selected to serve on the Board of Directors; two individuals were selected to fill seats designated for individuals from the North American and European regions on the Interim At-Large Advisory Committee (which coordinates participation by individual Internet users in ICANN's activities); three individuals were selected for the Council of the new Country Code Names Supporting Organisation (which administers and coordinates the affairs of the ccNSO and manages the policy development process of the ccNSO); and one individual was selected for the Council of the Generic Names Supporting Organization (which develops policy concerning domain names in generic top-level domains such as .com, .net, .org, .info, and .biz).

The NomCom was asked to find high-caliber, experienced, open-minded women and men with integrity, sound judgment, and objectivity.   "Using a holistic approach, the NomCom focused on the careful selection of slates of Candidates with complementary skills and perspectives who fulfilled the ICANN criteria and eligibility requirements for each of the four roles to be filled, keeping all the Candidates in consideration until the final slates were chosen,"  Damlamian explained.

Through these strategies the NomCom pursued its dual charge: to balance the other ICANN leadership selection processes which are based on Supporting Organizations and Constituencies and to help ensure that ICANN can benefit from the leadership of the women and men of the highest integrity and capability who place the interest of the global Internet community ahead of any particular interests. These carefully selected slates will help ICANN ensure functional, cultural, and geographic diversity in its policy development and decision-making as the Internet itself evolves.

The Nominating Committee:

An independent Nominating Committee is a key element of the ICANN structure. It is composed of a diverse set of individuals chosen by the groups and entities that make up ICANN. The NomCom is charged to act in the interests of the global Internet community rather than in accord with specific interests. NomCom is presently responsible for selecting 8 of fifteen Board Directors, 5 of fifteen Interim ALAC Members, 3 of eighteen ccNSO Council Members and 3 of fifteen GNSO Council Members. In the current process, nine of these positions needed to be filled.

For more information about the Nominating Committee, its Members, Formal Call and Procedures please visit its web page at http://nomcom.icann.org/. Further questions or requests for information can be sent via e-mail to Kieran Baker baker@icann.org.

NomCom Selection Statistics:

Total Number of Candidates: 84

  Geographic Distribution of Candidates Geographic Distribution of Selected Nominees
Africa 11% 13%
Asia/Australia/Pacific 24% 24%
Europe 29% 13%
Latin America/Caribbean Islands 10% 13%
North America 26% 37%
Total: 100% 100%

Citizenship of Candidates:

34 Countries: Argentina, Armenia, Australia,  Bangladesh,  Belgium,  Brazil, Canada, China, Congo, France, Germany, Hong Kong S.A.R, India, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, USA.

Citizenship of Selected Nominees:

8 Countries: Brazil, Canada, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Sweden, Tanzania, USA.

  Gender Distribution of Candidates Gender Distribution of Selected Nominees
Male 74% 56%
Female 26% 44%

Recommendations Received:

Total Number of Recommendations: 102
Total Number of Recommendees: 90
Total Number of Recommendees who submitted a Statement of Interest: 54
Percentage of Candidates who are Recommendees: 60%

About ICANN

The mission of ICANN is to coordinate, at the overall level, the global Internet's systems of unique identifiers, and in particular to ensure the stable and secure operation of the Internet's unique identifier systems. In particular, ICANN:

  1. Coordinates the allocation and assignment of the three sets of unique identifiers for the Internet, which are
    • Domain names (forming a system referred to as "DNS");
    • Internet protocol ("IP") addresses and autonomous system ("AS") numbers; and
    • Protocol port and parameter numbers.
  2. Coordinates the operation and evolution of the DNS root name server system.
  3. Coordinates policy development reasonably and appropriately related to these technical functions.