Historical Resolution Tracking Feature » 2012-09-13 - Officer Compensation

Important note: The explanatory text provided through this database (including the summary, implementation actions, identification of related resolutions, and additional information) is an interpretation or an explanation that has no official authority and does not represent the purpose behind the Board actions, nor does any explanations or interpretations modify or override the Resolutions themselves. Resolutions can only be modified through further act of the ICANN Board.

2012-09-13 - Officer Compensation


Resolution of the ICANN Board
Topic: 
Officer Compensation
Summary: 

Board authorizes compensation adjustments for Chief Financial Officer.

Category: 
Administration and Budget
Meeting Date: 
Thu, 13 Sep 2012
Resolution Number: 
2012.09.13.15
Status: 
Complete
Implementation Actions: 
  • Make compensation adjustments for Xavier Calvez.
    • Responsible entity: ICANN CEO
    • Due date: None provided
    • Completion date: September 2012
Resolution Text: 

Whereas, the retention of high calibre staff is essential to ICANN's operations and ICANN desires to ensure competitive compensation for staff.

Whereas; Xavier Calvez is considered critical to the successful continuity of the organization, including key projects that are currently underway.

Whereas, independent market data provided by outside compensation consultants indicates that current compensation for Xavier Calvez, ICANN's Chief Financial Officer, is below ICANN's target of the 50th to 75th percentile based on market data supplied by ICANN's compensation consultants.

Whereas, the Compensation Committee and the full Board have confirmed that they are not conflicted with respect to the Chief Financial Officer's compensation package.

RESOLVED (2012.09.13.15), the Board authorizes the CEO to make compensation adjustments for this compensation year (effective 1 September 2012) for Xavier Calvez, Chief Financial Officer in accordance with the independent study on comparable compensation received, subject to a limitation that his annual base salary shall not increase by more than 15% per annum from its current rate for this year.

Rationale for Resolution: 

Attracting and retaining high calibre staff by providing a competitive compensation package is crucial to the organization. An improving job market will make more opportunities available for high calibre performers outside of ICANN. ICANN has consulted with independent compensation experts to obtain comparable market data, which indicates that some current officers are earning less than market rates, i.e. what they could earn at another employer.

ICANN is in a critical phase that calls for continuity of certain skill and expertise, particularly with ongoing key projects including new gTLDs, Affirmation of Commitments reviews, expanding contractual compliance, and globalization, among many others. Each of these projects requires knowledgeable and skilled executives to ensure ICANN's operational goals and objectives are met while ensuring that risk is mitigated to the greatest extent possible. Adhering to ICANN's employment philosophy and providing competitive compensation will help ensure these goals are achieved.

Continuity and retention of key personnel during key organization phases is beneficial to all aspects of the organization. Thus, the salary adjustment called for in this resolution likely will have a positive impact on the organization and its effort to serve the public interest, as well as on the transparency and accountability of the organization. There will be some fiscal impact to the organization, but that impact will not have an effect on the overall current fiscal year budget. This resolution will not have any direct impact on the security, stability and resiliency of the domain name system.

Additional Information: