From: http://blog.icann.org/2012/12/dns-industry-ceo-roundtable-events DNS Industry CEO Roundtable Events by Fadi Chehadé on December 21, 2012 21 December 2012 To the ICANN Community, I believe The Domain Name System - and the Industry that has grown up around it - are at an inflection point. With the impending introduction of new gTLDs and the vertical integration of the DNS value chain, we, as leaders within the DNS ecosystem, must be ready to meet the challenges ahead. I am writing to tell you about my plans to meet with leaders of this marketplace to exchange ideas and information about the forthcoming challenges that this sector is likely to face. Sharing this information will help me gain a better understanding of what to expect, and how best to lead ICANN in partnering effectively with all stakeholders as this sector grows and matures. To achieve this, I am organizing a series of CEO Roundtables throughout 2013 to engage directly with leaders of the DNS industry. Our talks will focus on macro trends affecting the DNS sector, the impact of new gTLDs, and the need to evolve the frameworks that govern relationships among DNS industry participants. The first roundtable is to be held in mid January with registrars. Other roundtables will follow, including with the registries and other key players in the DNS ecosystem. Throughout the year, I plan to share the content of these discussions and engage across the spectrum of ICANN stakeholders. My aim, as always, is to ensure that ICANN is serving both the DNS sector and the broader global public interest - fulfilling our mandate to enable competition and choice, while remaining a responsible steward of the DNS. I look forward to these events and to sharing the insights we gather with all of you in the coming months. Sincerely, Fadi