Changes

===Criticism===

===Criticism===

Many ICANN participants have questioned his ownership over the aforementioned achievements and instead point to a list of dubious decisions and alarming statistics. Some of his more widely criticized moves include:

Many ICANN participants have questioned his ownership over the aforementioned achievements and instead point to a list of dubious decisions and alarming statistics. Some of his more widely criticized moves include:

* In May, 2010, Rod Beckstrom brought on [[Elad Levinson]] as a consultant, and later promoted him to VP of Organization Effectiveness. Mr. Levinson's background as a self-help, weight loss, and Buddhist-inspired psychologist and guru riled many ICANN watchers.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/icann-hires-weight-loss-guru-as-vice-president/ DomainIncite.com]</ref> Some interpreted it as Rod Beckstrom bringing on a personal teacher into a position of authority within the organization, and were especially irritated over the creation of new VP positions when other existing positions remained unfilled.<ref>[http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/03/14/yes-to-crank-vps News.Dot-Nxt.com]</ref> Internal emails from the [[GNSO]] show disagreement over whether or not the hire was appropriate, and include a defense of Mr. Levinson's effectiveness.<ref>[http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/council/msg10941.html GNSO.ICANN.org]</ref>

* In May, 2010, Rod Beckstrom brought on [[Elad Levinson]] as a consultant, and later promoted him to VP of Organization Effectiveness. Mr. Levinson's background as a self-help, weight loss, and Buddhist-inspired psychologist and guru riled many ICANN watchers.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/icann-hires-weight-loss-guru-as-vice-president/ DomainIncite.com]</ref> Some interpreted it as Rod Beckstrom bringing on a personal teacher into a position of authority within the organization, and were especially irritated over the creation of new VP positions when other existing positions remained unfilled.<ref>[http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/03/14/yes-to-crank-vps News.Dot-Nxt.com]</ref> Internal emails from the [[GNSO]] show disagreement over whether or not the hire was appropriate, and include a defense of Mr. Levinson's effectiveness.<ref>[http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/council/msg10941.html GNSO.ICANN.org]</ref> mr. Levinson was terminated following Mr. Beckstrom's departure, and was seen as part of a number of high-profile terminations and resignations associated with cleaning out Mr. Beckstrom's personnel and staffing choices.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/10343-another-controversial-vp-leaves-icann Another Controversial VP Leaves ICANN, DomainIncite.com]</ref>

* Rod Beckstrom has been accused of being paid too much.<ref>[http://nigel.je/2011/08/icann-to-part-company-with-ceo-rod-beckstrom/ Nigel.ie]</ref> He had released information regarding his salary, which stands at $750,000 USD per year plus bonuses, at risk compensation, and benefits.<ref>[http://www.domainnamenews.com/icann-policy/icann-publishes-salaries-top-level-employees/7162 DomainNameNews.com]</ref>

* Rod Beckstrom has been accused of being paid too much.<ref>[http://nigel.je/2011/08/icann-to-part-company-with-ceo-rod-beckstrom/ Nigel.ie]</ref> He had released information regarding his salary, which stands at $750,000 USD per year plus bonuses, at risk compensation, and benefits.<ref>[http://www.domainnamenews.com/icann-policy/icann-publishes-salaries-top-level-employees/7162 DomainNameNews.com]</ref>

* Rod Beckstrom was publicly derided by both [[Maria Farrell]] and [[Lesley Cowley]] at the public forum at [[ICANN San Francsico]].<ref>[http://nigel.je/2011/08/icann-to-part-company-with-ceo-rod-beckstrom/ Nigel.ie]</ref> Ms. Farrell first took the mic to accuse the organization of chasing away its experienced staff members, herself included, and lament the "hollowing out of expertise" therein. Her comments were met with sustained applause. Rod Beckstrom responded that turnover was below 15%, less than the average for a nonprofit or high-tech companies. [[Lesley Cowley]] later took the mic to point out that the turnover rate for senior staff members was likely significantly higher, around 78%.<ref>[http://mariafarrell.com/?p=141#more-141 MariaFarrel.com]</ref> Audio of that forum can be found [http://audio.icann.org/meetings/siliconvalley2011/public-forum-17mar11-en.mp3 here], with the aforementioned interaction beginning around 23:10. Rod Beckstrom further defended the turnover rate in his opening address at [[ICANN 41]], he noted that turnover for the previous year was at 11.62% and that it was tracking at 13%. When he was later asked about the loss of executives in an interview in September, 2011, he defended his management and team by saying, "The evolution of the management team was absolutely deliberate. Sometimes skills you get in a $100m organisation are different from those in a $5m organisation. I have assembled an excellent management team".<ref>[http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/emerging-tech/2011/09/24/beckstrom-i-came-to-change-icann-40094014/2/ I came to change ICANN, zdnet.co.uk]</ref>

* Rod Beckstrom was publicly derided by both [[Maria Farrell]] and [[Lesley Cowley]] at the public forum at [[ICANN San Francsico]].<ref>[http://nigel.je/2011/08/icann-to-part-company-with-ceo-rod-beckstrom/ Nigel.ie]</ref> Ms. Farrell first took the mic to accuse the organization of chasing away its experienced staff members, herself included, and lament the "hollowing out of expertise" therein. Her comments were met with sustained applause. Rod Beckstrom responded that turnover was below 15%, less than the average for a nonprofit or high-tech companies. [[Lesley Cowley]] later took the mic to point out that the turnover rate for senior staff members was likely significantly higher, around 78%.<ref>[http://mariafarrell.com/?p=141#more-141 MariaFarrel.com]</ref> Audio of that forum can be found [http://audio.icann.org/meetings/siliconvalley2011/public-forum-17mar11-en.mp3 here], with the aforementioned interaction beginning around 23:10. Rod Beckstrom further defended the turnover rate in his opening address at [[ICANN 41]], he noted that turnover for the previous year was at 11.62% and that it was tracking at 13%. When he was later asked about the loss of executives in an interview in September, 2011, he defended his management and team by saying, "The evolution of the management team was absolutely deliberate. Sometimes skills you get in a $100m organisation are different from those in a $5m organisation. I have assembled an excellent management team".<ref>[http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/emerging-tech/2011/09/24/beckstrom-i-came-to-change-icann-40094014/2/ I came to change ICANN, zdnet.co.uk]</ref>