Chehade repositions ICANN top-level executives

ICANN president, Fad Chehade

President and Chief Executive Officer Fadi Chehadé of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has named the current Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mr. Akram Atallah as the President, Generic Domains Division, a newly created branch that will focus on generic domain operations, domain name industry engagement and web services for the community.

Since assuming office at ICANN in September of 2012, Chehadé made it a priority to both internationalize ICANN and to accelerate effective and professional global management.

Confirming this to DigitalSENSE Business News, Director of Global Media Affairs, Mr. Brad White, quoted ICANN chief executive as saying that the creation of the new division was necessary because of ICANN’s new gTLD programme; one of the biggest changes to the Internet since its inception, which will see a tremendous increase in scale and responsibility to ensure that ICANN continues to deliver operational excellence.

Also, he said, that Mrs. Susanna Bennett, an accomplished financial and operational executive in technology services, has been named the new COO. She will be charged with continuing to lead the organization’s day-to-day operations while also continuing to improve management operations.

Recalling that Bennett would be leaving Jazz Technologies, Inc., where she was the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Human Resources.

Describing Susanna as one with extensive knowledge of international operational infrastructure, governance and integration in culturally-diverse organizations, Chehadé said in his official blog post that Susanna would help improve ICANN’s agility, accountability and visibility, which he discussed during ICANN’s recent meeting in Beijing.

“She will help us mature and tweak our bottom-up, consensus-driven, multistakeholder model,” Chehade said.

Revealing that both Bennett and Attalah will assume their new positions on July 1 when several other new organizational changes will occur.

Mr. White also said that Bennett has more than 25 years of experience with both public and private companies and has established and managed international operations in Europe, Asia, Australia, South Africa, and South America.

Stressing that prior to joining Jazz Technologies, Inc. in 2008, Bennett was CFO Partner for Tatum, LLC where she advised clients in China on acquisition strategies, integration synergies and global market expansion.

Ms Susanna Bennett and Mr Attallah

Reacting to her appointment, Bennett said: “It is particularly exciting to partner with the passionate team at ICANN at this time of dramatic international growth.” Adding that the Internet’s impact around the globe is phenomenal and in no small way ICANN’s multi-stakeholder model has effectively framed the Internet’s growth.

DigitalSENSE Business News further gathered that other new organizational changes expected at ICANN, including the creation of a new position to lead Technical & Security Operations, who will report directly to the CEO.

In addition, Jamie Hedlund, currently Vice President of Stakeholder Engagement for North America, will become a special advisor to Chehadé, while continuing leadership of North America government relations.

While Christopher Mondini, presently the Vice President of Business Engagement, will become the Vice President of Stakeholder Engagement for North America and Global Business Engagement. He will assist with ICANN’s overall engagement efforts.

 
Whereas Nora Abusitta will become Vice President of Public Responsibility Programs. Abusitta is currently the Senior Director of Inter-Governmental Development. 


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