Team biographies
As NetNames are world leaders in corporate domain name management, we are best placed to help organisations assess whether or not they should apply for a new gTLD.
Our new gTLD programme is also run by a team of domain name experts and led by the current Chair of the GNSO, the international policy making body for all gTLDs. As such, they have been, and continue to be, instrumental in developing ICANN's new gTLD initiative.
Stephane Van Gelder
Stéphane is co-founder and General Manager of Indom, part of the Group NBT family of companies and a world recognised expert in the field of domain names and Internet governance; he also heads up Group NBTs Domain Operations. Stephane is the editor of the domain name information daily http://www.domaines.info
Stéphane was a board member for the French registry AFNIC from 2004 to 2010. He was elected treasurer of ICANN’s Registrar Stakeholder Group in 2008, and that group’s European representative on the Generic Names Supporting Organisation (GNSO) council that same year. He was elected Vice Chair of the GNSO in 2009 and now serves as Chair of the Council, ICANN's policy making body for generic Top Level Domains such as .COM.
Ben Anderson
Ben is Domain Operations Manager at Group NBT overseeing both product and fulfilment for all Group NBT brands.
An industry recognised expert on domain practice and operations he is currently seated on various domain and compliance bodies for both ICANN and INTA. He is an active member of many of the large TLD operators and is often called upon to provide advice to them.
Ben has a wealth of experience at the sharp-end of setting up and managing domain Registrars and Registries.
Rob Coghill
Rob is Registry Relations Manager and is one of Group NBT’s long standing experts, having joined the company in 1996. Rob’s role has primarily been focused on establishing and maintaining relationships with the gTLD and ccTLD domain registries and associated technology and solution providers.
Rob’s depth of knowledge on domain issues, domain registration requirements and registry processes is unparalleled; and his expertise in simplifying domain transaction processes and reducing the costs of operation are key components in new gTLD applications.
Rob is a recognised expert in the operational aspects of effective registrar/registry relations and regularly participates in events about domains issues, such as the developments of the new gTLDs. Rob is involved in various industry groups on domain issues including the ICANN Registrar Stakeholders Group and the .EU Technical Reference Panel.
Andy Churley
Andy is Marketing Director at Group NBT. An experienced product professional, Andy has spent 20 years in the fields of reputational and brand risk, IT security and knowledge management. His responsibilities include direction of Group NBT’s product development, leading Group NBT’s new gTLD programme, management of strategic alliances and technology trending on brand and domain related issues.
With years spent working with leading brands on mitigation of brand and domain risk, Andy joined Group NBT to apply his knowledge and experience in the field of brand management to customers determined to protect their brands online.
Andy is a Chartered Engineer, a European Engineer, a Chartered IT Professional and holds a Bachelors degree in Engineering and a Masters degree in Business Administration.
