Changes

[http://www.mindsandmachines.com/2011/07/mms-parent-company-tldh-appoints-peter-dengate-thrush-as-executive-chairman/ M+M’s parent company, TLDH, appoints Peter Dengate Thrush as Executive Chairman]</ref>

[http://www.mindsandmachines.com/2011/07/mms-parent-company-tldh-appoints-peter-dengate-thrush-as-executive-chairman/ M+M’s parent company, TLDH, appoints Peter Dengate Thrush as Executive Chairman]</ref>

Mr. Thrush is a former ICANN Chairman, and he was responsible for leading the Board of Directors that approved the implementation of the [[New gTLD Program]]. His immediate decision to join TLDH as Executive Chairman after his term as ICANN Chairman expired in June, 2011, raised criticism from the global Internet community; many questioned ICANN's lack of Conflict of Interest Policy, and its general Ethics Policy.<ref>[http://expodomain.com/2012/03/19/icann-prez-calls-out-own-board-over-conflicts-of-interest/ ICANN prez calls out own board over conflicts of interest]</ref> The move was even cited by Sen. Ron Wyden of the U.S. Senate in a letter asking for further oversight of ICANN, and the need for a clear conflict of interest policy to be written into the next [[IANA]] contract with the [[National Telecommunications and Information Administration]], which oversees ICANN's fulfillment of the IANA contract.

Mr. Thrush is a former ICANN Chairman, and he was responsible for leading the Board of Directors that approved the implementation of the [[New gTLD Program]]. His immediate decision to join TLDH as Executive Chairman after his term as ICANN Chairman expired in June, 2011, raised criticism from the global Internet community; many questioned ICANN's lack of Conflict of Interest Policy, and its general Ethics Policy.<ref>[http://expodomain.com/2012/03/19/icann-prez-calls-out-own-board-over-conflicts-of-interest/ ICANN prez calls out own board over conflicts of interest]</ref> The move was even cited by Sen. Ron Wyden of the U.S. Senate in a letter asking for further oversight of ICANN, and the need for a clear conflict of interest policy to be written into the next [[IANA]] contract with the [[National Telecommunications and Information Administration]], which oversees ICANN's fulfillment of the IANA contract. Peter Dengate Thrush left TLDH in October, 2012.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/10790-dengate-thrush-quits-tldh Dengate Thrush Quits TLDH, DomainIncite.com]</ref>

During the Senate hearings regarding the implementation of the New gTLD Program, Mr. Couvering was one of the representatives of the domain industry who signed the letter sent to Senators John Rockefeller and Kay Bailey Hutchison supporting the program. He and his colleagues reiterated ICANN's position that it is beneficial for the global internet community and it promotes innovation.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/docs/Senate-Letter-ICANN-Expansion-of-Top-Level-Domains-08.DEC.2011.pdf Letter to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation]</ref>

During the Senate hearings regarding the implementation of the New gTLD Program, Mr. Couvering was one of the representatives of the domain industry who signed the letter sent to Senators John Rockefeller and Kay Bailey Hutchison supporting the program. He and his colleagues reiterated ICANN's position that it is beneficial for the global internet community and it promotes innovation.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/docs/Senate-Letter-ICANN-Expansion-of-Top-Level-Domains-08.DEC.2011.pdf Letter to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation]</ref>