Internet Security Expert Named ICANN CEO

Sydney (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Rod Beckstrom is Global Entrepreneur, Analyst and Author

Internet founders and leaders are joining industry executives and
government officials in praising the selection of Rod Beckstrom as
the new Chief Executive Officer and President of the Internet
Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090626/DC38669 )

"Rod Beckstrom has exactly the sort of strong personal and
technical background that ICANN needs, as we enter a period of
unprecedented growth and change for the Internet," said ICANN's Board
Chairman Peter Dengate Thrush, in announcing the appointment. "In
addition to his cyber security expertise, he's been a successful CEO
of a global enterprise, done NGO work and volunteer work and a
bestselling author. It's an extreme understatement to say we are
enthused."

Beckstrom is the former Director of the U.S. National
Cybersecurity Center (NCSC), where he formed an effective working
group of leaders from the nation's top six cybersecurity centers
spanning the civilian, military and intelligence communities.

The announcement of Beckstrom's selection as CEO occurred at the
conclusion of ICANN's 35th international meeting in Sydney,
Australia.

"The importance of the Internet as a free flowing source of
information is being underscored right now by the events in Iran,"
said Beckstrom. "It shows the power of human expression through a
free and open Net."

Beckstrom's international perspectives and expertise in
organizational analysis frame much of the praise surrounding his
appointment as ICANN CEO:

- "Rod's extensive technical and commercial expertise is world class, and
I can think of no one better positioned to lead ICANN's critical
mission as the Internet's role in society continues to increase in scope
and importance." Eric Schmidt, Google Chairman and CEO.
- "Rod Beckstrom is strikingly well-prepared to undertake a new role as
CEO of ICANN. His experience in industry and government equip him for
this global and very challenging job," - Vint Cerf, considered the
"Father" of the Internet.
- "I am pleased that ICANN elected Rod Beckstrom to serve as its next
CEO, and look forward to working with him in the years to come. He is an
intelligent and thoughtful individual who will provide the right kind of
leadership for the organization." - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman of
the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee.
- "I can think of no one more prepared to take this role on than Rod
Beckstrom." - David Dorman, Chairman of Motorola Inc.
- "Rod has thought deeply about organizations and the Internet. He will
bring experience, energy and ideas to a job at the center of the digital
revolution." - James Lewis, Center for Strategic and International
Studies in Washington, DC.
- "Rod Beckstrom is an outstanding choice to head ICANN. He understands
people, institutions, and technology. He can bring constituencies
together and has inspired important collaborations around the world. He
recognizes both the potential and the challenges for ICANN. And has
stood up for the civil liberties of Internet users with courage and
foresight." - Marc Rotenberg, Executive Director of the Electronic
Privacy Information Center (EPIC)
- "Rod Beckstrom's unique blend of experience as a high-tech
entrepreneur, public servant and leading international thinker are just
what ICANN needs as it enters the next phase of its development.
VeriSign looks forward to working with Mr. Beckstrom and his staff as
they tackle the issues critical to the Internet community and Internet
users." - Mark McLaughlin, President and Chief Operating Officer of
VeriSign.
- "I'd liked to extend my congratulations to Mr. Beckstrom for his
appointment as President and CEO of the Internet Corporation for
Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). His background as an Internet
entrepreneur and in cyber security will be an asset for ICANN as it
continues to promote competition and enhance the stability and security
of the global Internet. I look forward to working with him, as we
continue our efforts to make ICANN a more stable, accountable,
transparent, and, most importantly, fully independent global
organization." - U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine).

Beckstrom has been an active participant in the non-profit arena,
serving on the board of trustees of the Environmental Defense Fund
and the Jamii Bora Trust, a micro-lending group based in Nairobi,
Kenya with more than 210,000 members.

A co-author of four books, Beckstrom's most recent, The Starfish
and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations,
details how diverse and untraditional organizations, can become
virtually self-perpetuating, regardless of the status of their
respective leadership.

"The Internet has changed the way the world communicates and
conducts commerce," said Beckstrom. "And in no small way, this
multi-stakeholder, bottom-up organization has been and will continue
to be at the core of the Internet's on-going evolution. Quite simply,
the proof that ICANN works, is that the Internet works."

About ICANN:

To reach another person on the Internet you have to type an
address into your computer - a name or a number. That address has to
be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN
coordinates these unique identifiers across the world. Without that
coordination we wouldn't have one global Internet. ICANN was formed
in 1998. It is a not-for-profit public-benefit corporation with
participants from all over the world dedicated to keeping the
Internet secure, stable and interoperable. It promotes competition
and develops policy on the Internet's unique identifiers. ICANN
doesn't control content on the Internet. It cannot stop spam and it
doesn't deal with access to the Internet. But through its
coordination role of the Internet's naming system, it does have an
important impact on the expansion and evolution of the Internet. For
more information please visit: www.icann.org.

ots Originaltext: ICANN
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Brad White, Director of Media Affairs, of ICANN, +1-301-365-3571 ,
brad.white@icann.org, or, Sharla Lane of Hill and Knowlton Inc. for
ICANN, +1-202-944-1932, sharla.lane@hillandknowlton.com / Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090626/DC38669