Thank you for your response Peter, I had indeed noted and welcomed the announcement and as I stated in various fora (my Tweets and to the At-Large list yesterday), "ALAC & At-Large look forward to the introduction of the lead candidate for CEO to other members of the ICANN community in Sydney" ... and I assume(d) that the penultimate paragraph of this announcement is/(was in part) a reply to my letter to the Board, regarding internal candidates and the search for CEO,..." As I stated in my original letter, what is essential in my biased personal opinion, is that not only is the very best candidate for ICANN CEO is selected at this critical time for ICANN; But also that they can promptly and effectively bring the support of the whole ICANN community to them and their plans and actions; I recognize the community I represent as Chair of the ALAC, is one of the more challenging groups to make that happen with and therefore, the only way we have a chance of improving institutional confidence *and* support for the new CEO from At-Large is by employing the highest possible standard of 'Openness, Transparency, and Accountability' possible in all we do. Looking forward to working again, more closely with you and the Board, in Sydney and beyond... Kindest regards, Cheryl (CLO) 2009/6/16 Peter Dengate Thrush <peter.dengatethrush@icann.org>
Dear CherylThank you for your personal letter on the CEO selection process.
The board has now reported the details of the search at <www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-14jun09-en.htm> Thas The leading candidate will be in Sydney, and we will be scheduling meetings to introduce him to the community. I look forward to seeing you in Sydney.
regards
Peter Dengate Thrush Chairman of the Board of Directors, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
+64 4 4998959 (DDI) +64 21499888 (mobile) +64 4 4710672 (fax)
On 5/06/2009, at 4:21 AM, Cheryl Langdon-Orr wrote:
Peter yesterday I forwarded to the ALAC Members and a few other ICANN Community Members a FYI email an attachment of a letter I'd sent to you and the Board the Day Before! It has come to my attention that it may not have (as yet) been passed onto you and the full Board... This I trust exceptional oversight on a matter that I felt was time critical and has not I'm afraid helped alleviate my concerns, but I feel I can do little more than send copy to you so that I am assured at least you as Chairman of the Board, are aware of my missive.
CLO
<excerpt from email sent Thursday 4th June> Please find attached a copy of a *personal* PDF letter I forwarded yesterday to to secretary@icann.org for disseminated to the full ICANN Board, I provide this to you For Your Information, as I do realize that in the leadership position that I currently hold within the ICANN community, such an action will not be without consequence.
I have been monitoring the search for ICANN’s new President/CEO and have become increasingly concerned by what I am hearing.
It would seem that the search firm has been instructed a) that preference will be given to candidates with commercial experience of running organisations with a turnover in excess of US$100 million and b) that candidates from within the ICANN community will not be considered.
Whilst it may well be that the best candidate will come from outside the ICANN community it seems more than a little odd to introduce a criteria that is not listed in the job specification and to exclude from the selection process those with significant experience of ICANN.
I am aware that a number of other members of the ICANN community who share these concerns and I think that you may feel the same.
It seemed to me that the best way to make the point that, if true, this apparent lack of transparency in process would erode community confidence in outcomes, was to formally tell the whole Board of what I've heard, and allow for the opportunity for clarification, if that is possible, and I really do look forward to receiving a response to my letter and will be happy to share any such outcome with you as well.
I understand that the recruitment subcommittee now has a short list of 3 candidates and they will be video interviewed by the Board at the end of this week so if you do wish to express your concern to the Board it would be good to do so very soon.
You are most welcome to use or reference any or all of the text of my email in any conversation or enquiry you make on this topic. Please note however that I did NOT choose to make this an Open Letter, as I truly hope and trust that in fact, my fears will prove unsubstantiated. Of course I will be happy to discuss the issue with you in more detail if you wish, but it is not my intent to start widespread community concern rather ensure that a few key members of our community know exactly 'who has actually sent what, to whom', before rumor and assumption distorts meaning and intent, as it so often does...
-- Cheryl Langdon-Orr (CLO)
-- Cheryl Langdon-Orr (CLO)
<Letter to Peter Dengate Thrush and ICANN Board June 3rd 2009.pdf>
-- Cheryl Langdon-Orr (CLO)