Alan Shiflett will join; Jeremiah Johnston steps down.
The Internet Commerce Association (ICA) has announced two changes to its board of directors that reflect both continuity and transition within the domain industry.
Alan Shiflett, who leads GoDaddy’s aftermarket business, will be joining the ICA board. Shiflett takes the seat previously held by James Bladel following Bladel’s retirement from GoDaddy. With deep experience in domain aftermarket operations, Shiflett brings practical industry knowledge that should help the ICA as it advocates for domain owners and marketplace stability.
James Bladel’s time on the board was relatively brief, and ICA may look to complement Shiflett’s commercial expertise with members who have strong policy and regulatory backgrounds, similar to Bladel’s skill set. That mix of operational and policy experience can strengthen ICA’s ability to respond to emerging issues affecting domain investors, registrants and marketplaces.
In a separate development, Jeremiah Johnston is stepping down from the board as he leaves his role as general counsel at Sedo. Johnston has been a long-standing member of ICA, present through much of its development and growth. His legal and institutional knowledge has been valuable during a period of rapid change for the organization and the broader domain industry.
Sedo is currently undergoing organizational transition, and while Johnston’s departure represents a change in ICA’s legal perspective, there is hope that Sedo will continue to support the association in other ways. ICA’s membership and board composition are likely to evolve as companies reshape their teams, but the association’s mission to represent and defend the interests of domain stakeholders remains steady.
These board changes underscore how leadership in the domain community adapts as individuals move between companies and roles. Alan Shiflett’s arrival adds aftermarket operational leadership to the ICA board, while Jeremiah Johnston’s exit marks the end of a long chapter of legal stewardship. ICA members and observers will be watching how the board balances commercial, legal and policy priorities as it moves forward.