[Chapter-delegates] Sally Wentworth is the incoming CEO of the Internet Society

[Ted Hardie]

Hi Dave, delegates,

All individual members of ISOC should have received this announcement.
Here is a link to the web view of what was sent out:
https://view.mail.isoc.org/?qs=8913b41680655e90f4cacd6ac4b33510985d5fcc5822f1b98d783c6c8bba7b45c1dd46da850c30dd2e05f5cd65674c2542afc9a86893af08b9ef626d10337d6020d46ccce9b048d38f93b6874a219849

(My apologies for the long URI string).

There were some latency differences in when it was received by different
members, as the rollout is throttled to avoid giving the impression of
spam.  If any chapter delegate did not receive a copy, please reach out to
your chapter engagement manager so that they can help work out why.

Some additional points on the process here:

As part of the board’s focus on good governance, and to ensure that the
Internet Society was prepared for a leadership transition, the board
chartered the CEO Succession committee in 2020.  The Committee developed a
well-rounded process to identify the critical leadership and administrative
skills needed for the position based on the Internet Society’s evolving
internal and external needs.

Over the course of several years, the Committee used those criteria to
conduct a thorough evaluation of candidates who could lead the Internet
Society in the coming years and drive implementation of its strategy and
mission. The Committee recommended to the Board that Sally was the right
choice because of her deep experience at the Internet Society, her vision
and global perspective, her demonstrated leadership capabilities, and her
ability to create a positive working environment.  The final decision was
voted on and approved by the Board of Trustees.  This decision to promote
internally, then, is a sign of organizational maturity, the board's
confidence in the overall direction of the organization, and our confidence
in Sally's capabilities.

We have many challenges before us, but with the release of the 2030
strategy and this selection, I think we can move forward with confidence
and with a renewed focus on our mission:  supporting and promoting the
development of the Internet as a global technical infrastructure, a
resource to enrich people’s lives, and a force for good in society.

Thanks to all of you for your work in making sure that the Internet is for
everyone.

best regards,

Ted Hardie

On Tue, May 7, 2024 at 8:58 AM Dave Burstein via Chapter-delegates <
chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org> wrote:

> It shouldn't be me making this announcement but the secrecy is now broken.
> Sally WentworthManaging Director, Incoming CEO
>
> https://www.internetsociety.org/author/wentworth/
>
> Instead of outreach and a search for the most qualified candidate for a
> "global" "transparent" "multistakeholder" organization, she was chosen by a
> small, unrepresentative committee. The Chair was from Cisco, another from
> Facebook. 5 0f 7 members were from the U.S. or Canada
>
> *The right thing for her to do now is to rededicate ISOC to*
>
> "multistakeholderism" including global involvement in decisionmaking. (She
> supported both in 2018 but ISOC has lost its way.)
>
> transparency including detailed information.
>
> Breaking free from our very close relationship with the U.S. gov, for
> which she worked. (A while back she couldn't think of any major
> policy decision where we didn't support the U.S. position, many of which
> were mercantile.)
>
> Financial support so strong chapters can grow the organization.
>
> Policies based on evidence.
>
> Eliminating many expensive programs ith almost no results.
>
> Open collaboration between staff & members, without fear of being fired
> for speaking out.
>
> technical expertise and basic truth in our public presentations
>
> regular open sessions with members and chapters
> -------------------
> Almost all ISOC CEOs and senior staff have been from the U.S. & Canada, as
> are 8 of the 12 board members. 2/3rds of the Internet is now in the global
> South.
>
> As yet another American CEO chosen by an American board, she must make
> clear she will involve the people we've ignored, in both policy and
> operations.
>
> ISOC must make clear we are independent of the U.S. government. (A while
> back she couldn't think of *any* major policy decision where we didn't
> support the U.S. position, many of which were mercantile.)
>
> No wonder fewer Internet users are joining and contributions are light.
>
> ---------------------------
>
> To be respected, the CEO must clarify her positions on
>
> "net neutrality" (previously opposed.)
>
> "multistakeholderism" and decisionmaking
>
> transparency
>
> how ISOC can effectively reach out and include those unrepresented in our
> governance. Two-thirds of Internet users are barely involved in ISOC
> decisions.
>
> top-down decisionmaking
>
> Whether staffers can disagree with the CEO without fear of losing their
> jobs. *I don't say that without reason*
>
> How we can bring a multistakeholder delegation to ITU and other bodies.
> (The Secretary-General publicly invited ISOC to send up to 100 delegates to
> support his efforts to make the ITU more representative. Instead, our
> delegation has been small & ineffectual. It seems only those taking orders
> from the CEO are on our delegation.)
> ----------------
>
> The Chair of the Committee (Ted Hardie) and new CEO need to have a press
> conference to answer those questions rather than hiding behind pr people
> who behave like pr people.
> Also, regular open discussions with the chapter and membership must begin.
> _______________________________________________
> As an Internet Society Chapter Officer you are automatically subscribed
> to this list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society
> Chapter Portal (AMS): https://community.internetsociety.org.
> -
> View the Internet Society Code of Conduct:
> https://www.internetsociety.org/become-a-member/code-of-conduct/
>
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