[Community-Discuss] AFRINIC Interim CEO

Tue Jun 18 07:54:40 UTC 2019

Dear Afrinic friends, colleagues, or whatever you may consider me

Over the years at afrinic something that has always come like a splash to my face was the disparity about afrinic. It could be a better or even the best RIR but our ego, our barriers, our politics has and will kill it. 

This organisation is no t far from something I do not even want to mention. There is distention between many but “doesn’t our force reside in our diversity”?  I know there are always middle grounds but unfortunately if one does not move even if the other does it will result in zero success and another new directional fight will start. My time at afrinic has shown me that and trying to balance out things is never easy. 

But working as a bigger team with our differences apart and putting down the ideas together am sure the middle ground can be found and surely will not make everyone happy but this is our best choice to not make afrinic a laughable stock. We should rise to the challenge. The world is not made up of all people we like but we need to concede to change and make things better and the result of the community fight has driven staff to have issues. 

I personally believe in the words “ Harmony and unity in Diversity” if our five fingers were same length would it be helpful? I do not think so.  Ten years have passed and we are still on the battle grounds and that is why other areas can permit themselves to make remarks on us. 

Finding a middle ground is in the best interest ion everything. Afrinic is also not a cash rich RIR but the stability is required to sustain the longer capacity and growth. If it does not move it is our fault it doesn’t we are too conservative and trying to pull down o everything. 

Whilst reading through all the exchanges, I feel bad and I can hardly bear to see how things are burning this seed that was put to grow and how we try to kill each other for a piece of a seed that has yet even germinated to give food for all.

I know for a fact that this email will hit its walls of who cares and non sensical bits. I am not writing to look for an answer but writing for a community to be one not separate, it needs different ideas so we can see beyond what we don’t see but do not destroy slowly and slowly what others have worked so hard to establish.

That was my thought for the past few days and I wanted to write it down and send it and I just told myself what difference will it make. I now just wanted to take the stand and say it out.  Only we as a community can and will impact the African space and we know most of the countries fall outside the line of simply paying up resources. But wasn’t this one of the basis for Afrinic’s existence to not follow the money only but try to move the continent !!!

All the best to all and by God please find the middle ground. 

PS: I do not want answers to this email to fill my inbox which is so cluttered but I would rather want reflection on site and all over the community. 

Kris Seeburn

> On 18 Jun 2019, at 09:44, John Walu <walu.john at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I stand corrected and reminded.
> 
> From a governance perspective. Its better for the board to keep the two roles (CEO/ CFO/Finance Director) separate - both functionally and Individually (physical human being ;-)
> 
> walu.
> 
> On Mon, Jun 17, 2019 at 10:21 PM Owen DeLong <owen at delong.com <mailto:owen at delong.com>> wrote:
> Walu,
> 
> That would be a very bad idea since the CFO is a key part of the check and balance system to keep the CEO honest. 
> 
> I’m not staying or implying anything about anyone, but structurally and optically, the CEO should never also perform the role of CFO. 
> 
> Owen
> 
> 
> On Jun 17, 2019, at 16:34, John Walu <walu.john at gmail.com <mailto:walu.john at gmail.com>> wrote:
> 
>> @Sander  
>> 
>> Maybe Patrisse Deesse can multi-task?  
>> 
>> As in be the Interim CEO while still overseeing Finance? Eventually, when the substantive CEO is recruited, Patrisse can go back 100% to his regular role.  Unless he ofcourse becomes confirmed as CEO, in which case then his former role can be formally advertised and filled.
>> 
>> I think this is the standard practice for interim positions...unless I am missing something.
>> 
>> walu
>> 
>> On Mon, Jun 17, 2019 at 3:52 PM Sander Steffann <sander at steffann.nl <mailto:sander at steffann.nl>> wrote:
>> Hello all,
>> 
>> > Op 16 jun. 2019, om 21:37 heeft Sander Steffann <sander at steffann.nl <mailto:sander at steffann.nl>> het volgende geschreven:
>> > 
>> >> As Community are aware, Mr Alan Peter Barrett, the Chief Executive Officer of AFRINIC, submitted his resignation on 27 April 2019 with effect from 26 July  2019.
>> >> 
>> >> At its meeting of 14 June 2019, the Board appointed Mr Patrisse Deesse, the Finance Director, as Interim Chief Executive Officer with effect from 27 July 2019 until a new Chief Executive Officer assumes AFRINIC duties. Mr Deesse and Mr Barret will work together between 1 July 2019 and 26 July 2019 and finalise the handing over process.
>> > 
>> > Out of curiosity, who will take over the CFO role from Mr Deesse?
>> 
>> Replying to myself to make sure that all relevant information is shared fairly within this community: one of the board members has informed me off-list that nobody will take over the CFO role, and there will therefore not be a CFO while Mr Deesse takes the role of interim CEO.
>> 
>> Cheers,
>> Sander
>> 
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