[council] Announcement

[Paul Twomey <twomey@icann.org>]

To the GNSO Council:

I am writing to let you know about some important changes that 
I have announced today.  

The announcement outlined changes that will be made to the 
organizational structure over the coming months.  These changes 
are designed to take ICANN to its next phase of maturation as 
an organization  Full details of these changes were posted on 
the ICANN website this afternoon.

I also announced an important staff change.  Louis Touton has 
decided that he will leave ICANN in late June.  Louis feels that 
the organization is in a stronger position than it has ever 
been, and that he has achieved what he set out to achieve when 
he joined more than four years ago.  Louis and I have been 
talking over the last few weeks about his plans and he has 
decided that this is a natural point for him to make this move.  

I consider this a very significant moment for ICANN.  As many of 
you would know, Louis was ICANN's first employee and he has 
overseen and managed the growth of the organization to what we 
know today.  He has done an enormous amount for ICANN and for the 
Internet community generally.  I will be very sad to see him go.

To ensure continuity during this time of change, Louis will be 
working with us to provide a smooth transition and the changes 
to the organizational structure will be approached in a way that 
maintains stability for staff and stakeholders.  

I look forward to your continued support.

Regards

Paul Twomey