Rod on NomCom

Sun Mar 18 22:32:57 CET 2012

Hi Carlos and all,
I am sure most of us have settled at work and base since returning from
Costa Rica.

Additional to Carlos point Rod was quoted as saying in the speech:
"It is my strong view that all members of the NomCom should be free of
conflicts and all directors selected by them should be independent of the
domain name industry"
To me,  his speech seems to be playing two sides of the coin, I don't want
to believe he was not yet in ICANN when the current NomCom for instance was
inaugurated and I did not understand the undertone that directors be
selected independent of domain name industry. What exactly does he mean by
that and is not ICANN not supposedly made of domain name stakeholders?

On Sun, Mar 18, 2012 at 6:16 PM, Carlos A. Afonso <ca at cafonso.ca> wrote:

> Dear people,
>
> I think we (diplomatically, or olympically as we usually say in Brazil,
> and probably might be prohibited from doing so by the IOC) ignored this
> in our joint NCSG-NomCom meeting (I was there and I am part to blame),
> and it seems Icann as a whole ignored this as well.
>
> In short, Rod proposes (and I agree with him) that the entire NomCom
> approach be revamped to ensure true independence in nominating occupiers
> of Icann posts.
>
> fraternal regards
>
> --c.a.
>
> ======================
> [part of Rod Beckstrom's speech in the ICANN43 opening ceremony, on
> Icann's NomCom]
>
> [...]
> A significant threat lies within ICANN's existing structure. Let's
> consider the nominating committee as an example. Preserving ICANN's
> ability to act independently in the public interest is paramount to the
> future of the Internet and this institution.
>
> In view of the need for broad representation within ICANN's governance,
> inclusion of industry representatives on the board and in our work
> supports the multistakeholder model, our means of ensuring independence.
>
> In the years since ICANN was formed, the number of Internet users has
> grown from 146 million to some 2.3 billion today around the world.
>
> The effects have been dramatic, bringing wholesale governance change and
> greater transparency to the entire world.
>
> I believe that ICANN, its board, and our community must keep pace with
> the growing diversity and expanding scope of the Internet.
>
> We must seize the opportunity to embrace the transparency and good
> governance that this precious resource deserves. ICANN must be able to
> act for the public good while placing commercial and financial interest
> in the appropriate context.
>
> How can it do this if all top leadership is from the very domain name
> industry it is supposed to coordinate independently? A more subtle but
> related risk is the tangle of conflicting agendas within the board that
> would make it more difficult for any CEO to meet the requirements of
> this deeply rewarding and sometimes frustrating job.
>
> Progress has been solid since I addressed ethics and conflict issues in
> my Singapore opening remarks. Along with greater engagement with the
> community, a subcommittee on conflicts and ethics of the Board
> Governance Committee was formed to help directors evaluate their
> potential conflicts. And as a result, this has increased instances where
> potentially conflicted members have left board discussions. I applaud
> this change and believe it is time to further tighten up the rules that
> have allowed perceived conflicts to exist within the board. This is
> necessary not just to be responsive to the growing course of criticism
> about ICANN's ethics environment but to ensure the absolute dedication
> to the public good always supersedes other priorities.
>
> ICANN has long been blessed with leaders of exceptional technical
> expertise. Now, we are poised to consolidate and strengthen our position
> among leading world organizations to better serve the global public
> interest. To do that, we must broaden the pool from which our leaders
> are drawn. I believe this is as true for the board -- board members as
> well as for the next CEO. There is value in having
> community members with domain name industry experience, but it is
> equally valuable to avoid even the perception of a conflict of interest.
> It is also important that new and occasionally dissenting voices from
> outside this world and this industry be given a shot at a seat at the
> table in our boardroom.
>
> And as the Internet's global users become more diverse in their
> backgrounds, so too must our board. The Nominating Committee was created
> to ensure independence and diversity by balancing industry
> representation with genuinely independent directors representing a wide
> range of views. Have we lived up to this challenge? I believe candidates
> proposed by the NomCom should be fully independent and unconflicted.
>
> To ensure the truly independent selection of directors, it would seem
> desirable for NomCom members themselves to also come from outside the
> stakeholder groups already represented on our board through the
> stakeholder seats. It is my strong view that all members of the NomCom
> should be free of conflicts and all directors selected by them should be
> independent of the domain name industry. This is a clear and simple
> bright line that should be drawn and enforced. To ensure the highest
> degree in professionalism and skills, nominees for the board should also
> have board-level experience in organizations, whether governments,
> business, or the non-profit world that are of comparable size, staffing,
> global reach and complexity.
>
> As ICANN grows and changes, the board must also. The board selection
> process is not just desirable, I believe it is imperative. Ideally a
> fully independent and non-conflicted NomCom should be in place before
> the next nomination cycle begins we continue to take steps to strengthen
> ICANN's conflict of interest procedures to address these issues.
>
> With the board's strong support, we have engaged a group of highly
> respected international experts to advise on reviewing ICANN's code of
> conduct. This team consists of German Brooks, Aron Cramer, and Mervin
> King, each renowned for his significant contributions in the field of
> ethics.
>
> A key challenge for my successor will be to find his or her place in
> this environment and to continue the drive to clarify and cast sunlight
> on the sometimes murky relationships that exist among the board, staff,
> community and industry. I've already shared my views with the selection
> committee about the qualities that I feel a new CEO should bring to
> ICANN and the challenges that person is likely to face.
>
> I've committed to the board and I commit to you that I will do my utmost
> to ensure a smooth and successful transition, including helping my
> successor to navigate the complexities of these existing relationships,
> if that assistance is requested.
>
> I believe the next CEO must accept that ICANN's place in the world has
> fundamentally changed. It is on a higher public stage, engaged at a much
> more influential level than at any time in its history.
> [...]
> _______________________________________________
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>

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