At the ICANN International Meeting finished its work on 24 June in Singapore, the non-profit organization bid farewell to its Chairman of the Board of Directors: Peter Dengate Thrush’s term in office drew to a close. For the same reason, Rita Rodin Johnston left the ICANN’s Board, now becoming a former Board member.
Peter Dengate Thrush was first elected to the Board of Directors in 2005, and already in 2007 he was catapulted to the ICANN Board Chairman’s seat. During his term in office Dengate Thrush was reelected three times – in 2008, 2009, and in 2010. Rita Rodin Johnston has been involved with ICANN from its very onset, since 1998 –. Rita Rodin was elected to the Board of Directors in 2006.
The outgoing Board members will be replaced by two influential figures: Steve Crocker is to become the fresh ICANN’s Board Chair. Rather a well-known figure in the history of the Internet, Mr Crocker authored the Request for Comment (RFC). Previously, Steve Crocker served as the Board’s Vice-Chair, and now Bruce Tonkin will step into his shoes. Mr Tonkin has been associated ICANN since 2001. Mr Tonkin is a member of GNSO, as is Bill Graham who will now represent GNSO in the ICANN’s Board instead of Rita Rodin. Chris Disspain was elected as a new ICANN’s Board member to represent ccNSO therein.
Curiously enough, shortly before the end of the ICANN International Meeting, ICANN lost another officer: in his letter of resignation to the members of the organization Michael O’Connor, the interim GNSO co-chair, holds that it is just a little too expensive (financially and emotionally) for him to stay in the game right now.
At the next ICANN meeting in Dakar later into the fall, the organization’s Board will have to nominate yet another member to the Board. It is worth noting that some experts suggest the election of a nominee from an area not yet represented on the Board.
