ICANN - Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers

07/29/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 07/29/2024 09:50

ICANN Organization UpdateSally Costerton

I'd like to share with you that Jia-Rong Low, ICANN VP, Stakeholder Engagement and Managing Director, Asia Pacific (APAC), has made the decision to leave the ICANN organization (org). He will stay on until Wednesday, 21 August to ensure a smooth transition.

I'd like to extend my heartfelt thanks and sincere appreciation to Jia-Rong for his many contributions to ICANN over the past 11 years. Jia-Rong joined the team in 2013 as Global Stakeholder Engagement Director, APAC. He was the second person hired in our Singapore office and was instrumental in helping to successfully implement ICANN's globalization strategy and establish ICANN's presence in the region.

In January 2016, Jia-Rong was promoted to Vice President and Managing Director, APAC. Since taking on the role, Jia-Rong has greatly expanded ICANN's footprint in the region by nurturing partnerships with the Korea Internet & Security Agency and India's National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM). He helped grow the APAC community in ICANN through a strong partnership and engagement strategy, which included the establishment of key programs including the Asia Pacific Internet Governance Academy, a widely recognized youth leadership program from which 25% of the participants continue to participate in ICANN and Internet governance. Jia-Rong also facilitated a partnership with the Singapore government that resulted in the installation of an ICANN Managed Root Server cluster to help increase the root server capacity for the APAC region.

While we bid farewell to Jia-Rong, I'm also pleased to announce that Samiran Gupta, ICANN VP, Government and IGO Engagement, APAC and VP, Stakeholder Engagement, South Asia, will take on the role of VP, Stakeholder Engagement and Managing Director, APAC upon Jia-Rong's departure. Samiran originally joined ICANN org in September 2014 and served as Head of Stakeholder Engagement, South Asia, until February of 2022, when he resigned from ICANN. Samiran rejoined ICANN in October 2023 in his current role.

Please join me in extending Jia-Rong our warmest wishes, and congratulating Samiran on his new role.

Authors

Sally Costerton

Sr. Advisor to President & SVP, Global Stakeholder Engagement and Interim President & CEO
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Sally Costerton

Sr. Advisor to President & SVP, Global Stakeholder Engagement and Interim President & CEO

Sr. Advisor to President & SVP, Global Stakeholder Engagement and Interim President & CEO

Sally is an experienced global leader. She has served as Senior Advisor to the President and Senior Vice President, Global Stakeholder Engagement (GSE) since 2012, and is also currently serving as ICANN's Interim President and Chief Executive Officer. In her role, she is responsible for ICANN's international offices and internationalization strategy. Her direct reports include the regional office managing directors and regional vice presidents, as well as the vice presidents of Meetings and Public Responsibility Support (PRS). Most recently, Sally led the development phase of the ICANN Grant Program, the Emergency Support Infrastructure Project and ICANN organization's contributions to the Anti-Harassment Board Working Group. Under the GSE function, she leads the GSE, Meetings, and Public Responsibility Support teams.

Prior to joining ICANN, Sally led one of Europe's largest public relations firms, Hill & Knowlton, as EMEA CEO. In this role, she was responsible for more than 1,000 staff members in 33 offices. Throughout her career, Sally has worked with diverse international companies and senior leaders to maximize their resources and build strong relationships with their stakeholders. She is an experienced Board Director, including roles as Board Chair.