Peter Dengate Thrush Discusses His Fresh Role with Top Level Domain Holdings
Peter Dengate Thrush and Antony Van Couvering discuss future of TLDH.
Yesterday former ICANN Chairman Peter Dengate Thrush disclosed he was joining Top Level Domain Holdings (parent firm of Minds + Machines) as Executive Chairman.
I just got off the phone with Dengate Thrush, who explained why he chose Top Level Domain Holdings.
“It was a no brainer for me,” stated Dengate Thrush regarding choosing to work with TLDH. He thinks TLDH is most equipped to face the next phase of the fresh top level domain name process.
TLDH has multiple business models which make it an attractive business, he stated. They plan to apply for fresh TLDs themselves as well as be a service provider for applicants. This generates multiple revenue sources. He also likes that TLDH is a public firm, which means people who can’t otherwise invest in fresh TLDs can invest in the upside through its stock.
Dengate Thrush stated he’s not sure why there’s criticism of him joining a fresh TLD firm shortly following leaving the board and voting to approve the fresh TLD program.
“There are no provisions that stop it, so I’m not sure why people would be raising it [as an issue],” he stated. He points out that ICANN’s board doesn’t receive compensation and there are existing board members by now working for firms that may profit from fresh TLDs.
He stated the process for fresh TLDs has been completely transparent. “It’s not like I left ICANN with any sort of insider knowledge of the guidebook,” he stated.
His predecessor, Vinton Cerf, took a paid position on VeriSign’s advisory board following stepping down.
Minds + Machines CEO Antony Van Couvering is no doubt excited to have Dengate Thrush on board.
“He’s modest regarding his achievements but they’re very stellar,” stated Van Couvering. “It’s been great here in London talking to investors and analysts having him here.”
When I asked Van Couvering how long he’s been trying to snag Dengate Thrush, he stated “regarding ten years”.
But of course he didn’t start discussions until following Dengate Thrush stepped down from his role as Chairman at ICANN.
