Icann nominates 18 candidates for five top spots

The global domain name governing body, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann) has announced the eighteen candidates shortlisted to stand in its October elections.

Five new members will join the Icann board - representing Africa, Asia/Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America.

The five candidates shortlisted for the European seat are Maria Livanos Cattaui, secretary general of the International Chamber of Commerce; Alf Hanson, director of Norwegian registrar Uninett Fas; Oliver Muron, research director at France Telecom; Macedonian academic Oliver Povov and Winfried Schiuller, director at Deutsche Telekom.

The candidates were selected by Icann's nominating committee from over 200 applications. Individual members can still apply to join the shortlist before 1 September - bypassing the nominating committee - by achieving a minimum level of support from ordinary members.

The online elections are scheduled to take place during the first week of October. The five successful candidates will join Icann's board in time to choose five new top-level domain names by the end of the year.