ICANN Names Alexandra, CommManager for LAC

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Friday, announced the appointment of Ms Alexandra Dans as Communications Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Within this role, Dans will be the primary media contact for journalists across the region.

According to the Director of Global Media Affairs, Mr. Brad White, “Alexandra knows the issues surrounding the Internet and she knows the Latin American media,” Stressing that her background and knowledge will make her a valuable asset for journalists who are covering ICANN specifically or on the Internet generally.

Dans, former Communications and Social Media Coordinator with the Latin American and Caribbean Internet Addresses Registry (LACNIC), has a degree in Political Science from the University of Montreal, a Master’s degree in International Communications from the University of Quebec (Canada) and is fluent in Spanish, French and English with basic knowledge of Portuguese. She will be based at the ICANN Engagement Center in Montevideo, Uruguay in the “Casa de Internet” of Latin America and the Caribbean.

“My first priority is to assist media who may be interested in reporting on the ICANN meeting in Buenos Aires in November and to generate interest among those unfamiliar with ICANN,” said Dans. “This will be an important meeting not just for ICANN but for the entire region and particularly for Latin American journalists who cover the Internet.”

ICANN is committed to adding communications representatives in each of its global regions as it continues efforts to internationalize its operations.

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Demystifying ICANN by Marilyn Cade

Marilyn Cade

The chief executive officer (CEO) and Principal, ICT Strategies based in the United States, Ms Marilyn Cade has demystified the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

Cade who was the past chairperson of the ICANN Business Constituency told ITRealms in Lagos that in demystifying ICANN it is important to break down the processes involved for a novice, especially intending to do business within the ICANN community to understand.

On what ICANN is and does, she said that ICANN among other things coordinates at the overall level, the global Internet's systems of unique identifiers, and in particular to ensure the stable and secure operation of the Internet's unique identifier systems.

Also, Cade said, ICANN coordinates the allocation and assignment of the three sets of unique identifiers for the Internet, which are the Domain names, which made up what is popularly referred to as Domain Name System (DNS).

In addition, she said, ICANN sets the Internet protocol (IP) addresses and Autonomous System (AS) numbers as well as provides “Protocol port and parameter numbers.”

Hence, ICANN coordinates the operation and evolution of the DNS root name server system, just as it manages policy development reasonably and appropriately related to these technical functions.

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IiP endorsement, another impetus for MTN – Goodluck

The Corporate Services Executive (CSE) of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck has described the recent endorsement by the United Kingdom-based Investor in People (IiP) is another impetus for MTN.

Reacting to the IiP award, Goodluck told ITRealms that MTN is delighted to receive this recognition.

“It is the highest accolade in people management practices from an independent and internationally recognised body. It has given us additional impetus and determination to continue to deploy best practice people solutions for the benefit of the organisation and all our stakeholders,” he said.

Also speaking, a registered specialist of Investors in People International and a member of the team that carried out the assessment, Ken Baylis said, “MTN is a great example of a company using Investors in People to improve business performance. They have worked hard to improve people management and talent development.”

Equally, ITRealms gathered that the initiative received an endorsement from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), UK. 

According to CIPD executive, Mr. Richard Braybrooke this was one of the most comprehensive in depth approaches to career management ever seen.

CIPD, he said, believes this is the missing ingredient in making a comprehensive talent management approach successful.

Many organisations, Braybrooke noted, are keen to win the competitive war for talent get the organisational systems in place, only to forget the individual's contribution in jointly recognising their career aspirations.

“We are sure that MTNN, who are currently training all their managers and employees in effective career management, will see a marked positive effect on their business bottom line by retaining and developing their talented employees," Braybrooke said.

ITRealms further gathered that MTN’s talent development creed has been demonstrated over the years in the number of Nigerians who have been appointed to strategic positions across various MTN operations.

Karl Toriola was appointed CEO of MTN Cameroun in 2011 and only recently, Mike Ikpoki became the first Nigerian CEO of MTN Nigeria having served as CEO of MTN Ghana for two years.

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