<h1 class="title">Where we are with the two top jobs in Internet governance </h1>
<span class="submitted">
<a href="http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/10/17/icann-igf-top-jobs-update">http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/10/17/icann-igf-top-jobs-update</a><br>by Kieren McCarthy | 17 Oct 2011 | </span>
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<p>The two top jobs in the Internet governance field are currently
unfilled: the CEO of ICANN, and the Executive Coordinator of the IGF.
Here are updates on both.</p>
<hr>
<p><strong>ICANN CEO position</strong></p>
<p>Following the announcement on 16 August by current CEO Rod Beckstrom
that he would not continue past July 2012 (in reality, he was informed
by the Board that they <a href="http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/08/16/icann-fires-ceo">would not renew</a> his contract), there has been mounting speculation about who would replace him.</p>
<p>General consensus is that ICANN needs an 'insider' for the role given
the current problems the organization is facing. So it was with some
interest that the Board <a href="http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-11oct11-en.htm#2" target="_blank">formally resolved</a> earlier this month that:</p>
<blockquote><p>No current or incoming member of the Board or liaisons
may be considered as a candidate for the role of the CEO for the current
CEO Selection process.</p></blockquote>
<p>That rules out a number of potential candidates including Chris
Disspain (CEO, auDA and long-term head of the ccNSO), Cherine Chalaby (a
management consultant and favored by business) and Bruce Tonkin (Chief
Strategy Officer for Melbourne IT).</p>
<p>At its 11 October meeting, the Board finally approved a search
committee for the job with no less than eight Board members on it and
former chair of ICANN's Nominating Committee, George Sadowsky, chosen as
its chair.</p>
<p>Board members have been sounding out members of the community for the
past two months about what skills are needed, and any potential
candidates. The Committee will outline its broad assumptions and
conclusions at the ICANN meeting later this month in Dakar, holding a <a href="http://dakar42.icann.org/node/26851" target="_blank">special session</a> on Monday 24 October at 3pm local time where it will ask for feedback on the process and selection criteria. </p>
<p>The Committee is expected to state that it will not rule anyone out
i.e. you don't have to be American, or an 'insider' or even possess all
four limbs to be considered. However, the current understanding is that
whoever takes over will have:</p>
<ul><li>Excellent diplomatic skills</li><li>An excellent understanding of ICANN's role and its position in the Internet eco-system</li><li>Language skills i.e. be able to speak at least one language</li><li>Demonstrable management skills</li>
<li>Experience in dealing with governments</li></ul>
<p>Applications haven't opened but ICANN being what it is, the place is
already abuzz with rumors about who will or will not apply. We must
stress that none of these are confirmed, but three names currently being
put about as good contenders are:</p>
<ul><li><strong>Maarten Botterman</strong>: Chairman of PIR, the registry
operator for dot-org. Excellent tech and government credentials.
Significant non-profit, policy and CEO experience. Multilingual.</li><li><strong>Lesley Cowley</strong>: CEO of Nominet, the dot-uk registry
operator and chair of the ccNSO. Excellent knowledge and understanding
of ICANN and the Internet governance world. Well-known and respected.
</li><li><strong>Paul Verhoef</strong>: Head of research at the European
Commission's transport division. Previously the ICANN VP of Europe,
seconded from the EC. Hugely capable and respected. Fluent in four
languages. </li></ul>
<p>ICANN is looking to hire its new CEO as soon as possible, but it is
equally determined to take time to make the right choice this time
around (Beckstrom's poor fit was the result of a rushed selection
process). Expect the CEO Search Committee to open up applications in
November. </p>
<hr>
<p><strong>IGF Executive Coordinator job</strong></p>
<p>No less important in terms of Internet governance is the main coordinating job of the Internet Governance Forum. </p>
<p>Following the unexpected exit of Markus Kummer after five years in
the job (ostensibly over UN retirement issues but in reality due to
internal efforts to <a href="http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/02/24/united-nations-continues-to-undermine-internet-governance-forum">undermine the IGF</a>),
there was some controversy over the delayed posting of the Executive
Coordinator job, with a public complaint actually lodged by one country.
</p>
<p>The delay, it is claimed, was due to UN procedures and bureaucracy
surrounding the need to approve a 12-month contract for a new position.
In reality, delaying the appointment was in the interests of Under
Secretary-General for UN DESA Sha Zukang, who made a determined effort
to scrap the IGF after efforts to turn it into more of an
inter-governmental body were thwarted. </p>
<p>On 28 June, the <a href="http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/06/28/igf-exec-coordinator-job">job was finally posted</a> and applications closed a month later.</p>
<p>Between 80 and 90 applications were made - the majority from within
the UN system and coming from P5 positions. Of those, a shortlist of
around 30 was drawn up just prior to the recent IGF annual meeting in
Nairobi.</p>
<p>Those will be further boiled down to 10 and then possibly five, at
which point a list and recommendation will be sent to the
Secretary-General of the United Nations to make a decision. </p>
<p class="pullquote-container"><span class="pullquote-processed pullquote-quote">One name that won't be on the list unfortunately is the current de facto Executive Coordinator Chengetai Masango</span><span class="pullquote pullquote-processed">One name that won't be on the list unfortunately is the current de facto Executive Coordinator Chengetai Masango</span>.
Due to UN rules, Chengetai is not able to apply because the position is
rated as D2, and you can only apply for a job a maximum of two pay
scales above you. </p>
<p>The UN scale is P1-P6, with P1 the most junior. Then there is D1 and
D2 (P6 and D1 are effectively the same). And then Under-Secretary
General. </p>
<p>There were eyebrows raised at putting the Executive Coordinator job
at the (very high) D2 level, which some have taken as a sign that the
job will be given to a long-term UN person and that the decision will be
highly political. </p>
<p>We understand that a number of comparative outsiders to the UN in
Geneva (or in New York) have put their names forward and some have made
it through to the shortlist, but the expectation/concern is that only
someone known to Under-Secretary Sha Zukang will get the job, in effect
giving it to someone who does not have good multi-stakeholder
credentials, and who may share Zukang's preference for a more
government-run Internet Governance Forum.</p>
<p>On the other hand, with the IGF seemingly solidifying its position at
the recent Nairobi meeting (attendance was nearly double what was
expected), an Executive Coordinator that is not known for, or capable
of, dealing with a multi-stakeholder environment could find themselves
getting a rough ride. </p>
<p>Adding to that mix, there is an expectation of both race and gender
equality within the UN, especially with an IGF that finds capacity
building and development a sweet-spot topic (although much of politics
takes place outside that topic).</p>
<p>Whatever happens, the goal will be to have the role filled before the
first IGF preparatory meeting which typically takes place at the end of
February, pointing to a decision made early in January 2012. </p>
<p>As we hear more on both positions, we will keep you posted. </p>
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