ICANN plans to select its next CEO in approximately one year, within 18 months of Göran Marby's departure.



Despite emphasizing the need for swift action from job seekers to safeguard ICANN's existence, the board of directors has recently approved a comprehensive 10-page job description after engaging in about 16 "listening sessions" with various parts of the ICANN community over the past three months.

One of the notable requests in the dоcument is for a "servant leader," which some may consider an oxymoron originating from the words of Jesus H Christ himself and recently echoed by King Charles III during his coronation.

The ideal candidate for the position must possess a global vision, extensive experience in managing large and well-funded technical organizations, unwavering ethical standards, diplomatic skills on an international level, empathy and compassion for others, the ability to build consensus, and proficiency in multiple languages. The job description acknowledges that finding a candidate who fulfills all these criteria is unlikely but sets a high standard nonetheless.

It is perplexing that it took approximately six months to draft a job posting for a role that has been occupied by nine individuals in the past 25 years. Even more puzzling is the fact that the recruitment process has not yet begun.

ICANN has announced its intention to solicit proposals from executive recruitment companies to oversee the hiring process. Interviews with potential candidates are not expected to commence until the beginning of next year. The actual appointment is projected to occur in the second quarter of 2024. The availability of the next CEO to assume the role immediately remains uncertain, and in the interim, Sally Costerton will continue as the interim CEO.

One might assume that as ICANN grows older, gains more resources, and becomes more experienced, the hiring process would become more efficient. However, the reality is that it now takes several months longer compared to previous instances when a new CEO was sought. For example, it took ten months to appoint Fadi Chehadé as Rod Beckstrom's successor in 2011 and nine months for Göran Marby to assume the role after Fadi Chehadé announced his departure in 2015.

This time, we are potentially facing a twice as long wait for the next CEO, accompanied by a job description that earnestly calls for leadership in a "rapidly evolving" governance landscape. It emphasizes the necessity to "get things done" urgently and addresses emerging technological threats that could divide the namespace and jeopardize ICANN's very reason for existence.

The appointment of ICANN's CEO holds profound significance from a philosophical standpoint, as it prompts us to contemplate the nature of authority, responsibility, and the allocation of power within the digital sphere. How ICANN navigates this transition will inevitably shape the ethical fabric of internet governance, raising questions about the moral obligations of those entrusted with overseeing the infrastructure that underpins global communication.
From an ethical perspective, the new CEO's commitment to upholding principles of transparency, inclusivity, and equitable representation among diverse stakeholders will be of paramount importance. Philosophical inquiries into the nature of fairness, justice, and the common good come to the forefront when considering the potential impact of this leadership change on the internet's accessibility, freedom, and reliability.

The philosophical lens also invites reflection on the implications of this transition for global citizenship in the digital age. How ICANN's CEO envisions the organization's role in fostering a digitally interconnected world that respects human rights, fosters innovation, and mitigates harm speaks to existential questions about our shared responsibilities in the virtual realm.

Therefore, from a philosophical standpoint, the discourse surrounding ICANN's CEO appointment must transcend mere corporate maneuvering and delve into the profound ethical and existential implications of this decision. It offers an opportunity to engage in thoughtful dialogue about the values, norms, and aspirations that should guide the governance of the internet, elevating the conversation beyond immediate practicalities to consider the enduring ethical foundations of our interconnected digital civilization.

ICANN's CEO search is straight-up a clown show. Six months to draft a job description? That's slower than a parked domain gathering dust. Dropping a 10-page wishlist for some "servant leader" guru with ninja-level ethics and polyglot skills is just pie-in-the-sky nonsense—good luck finding that in any WHOIS lookup. Absolute rookie move. ICANN's acting like a noob ignoring a critical patch.