The many faces of Paul Twomey. Get used to them

Two surprises in one: first Vint Cerf has announced that Paul Twomey has signed a three-year continuation contract of his CEO role. First of all, no one appears to know the contract was up, and secondly – three years?!

Everyone had assumed that Twomey would leave in around a year’s time. He had been GAC chair, then been pulled in to get ICANN through WSIS and the whole governmental battle that was brewing, which he pulled off. But Twomey has made alot of enemies in that time across all constituencies and it was widely assumed he’d jump ship in about a year after he had found some diplomatic or governmental post.

Still, Paul himself seems pretty happy about it. I’ll be asking what the terms of that contract is – what’s the bet it’s covered by a confidentiality contract?

The second surprise was that Twomey appeared to be pretty open about what is going to be discussed at the meeting, even daring to mention the (ssssh!) MoU with the US government without which ICANN doesn’t effectively exist. This would be wonderful if is demonstrated a new openness in ICANN but having been here a few times before, what it really means is that Twomey has a plan – and he’s pretty confident he can pull it off.

If you had any doubt of the many side of Dr Twomey, this series of photographs should put an end to it however.

Determined Twomey

You think so? Twomey

Back-foot Twomey

Expansive Twomey

Rabbit-headlights Twomey

Well… Twomey

More sides of Twomey as and when they come.