Companies & People in the News: Go Daddy, Blake Irving, Webfest Global, Roy Flanders & .INFO 

I was away last week for the special trip with my daughter that I told you about in my last Lowdown post (Brittany was impressed with both Columbus hospitals where she had residency interviews but she still has more than a half dozen more to go before deciding her favorites. In fact she was on another plane to Philadelphia today for interviews there). I'm back home in Florida with lots of catching up to do! I'll start by touching on some of the most interesting stories that came out while I was away. 

For starters, the world's biggest domain regsistrar, Go Daddy, has named Blake Irving as the company's CEO, effective Jan. 7, 2013. Irving, who was a long time Microsoft executive and most recently served as Chief Product Officer at Yahoo!, will succeed interim CEO Scott Wagner. 

Go Daddy Executive Chairman and Founder Bob Parsons said, "Blake Irving's deep technology experience and his history of developing new cutting-edge products and leading large global teams make him an enormously compelling choice to drive Go Daddy to the next level of its domestic and global growth. Go Daddy has made great strides with Scott Wagner as CEO, and we look forward to building on that in the future.

Irving said, "I'm honored for the opportunity to lead such

GoDaddy CEO Blake Irving 

a talented team and to be a part of such an innovative company. Go Daddy is and will continue to be the hub where businesses can come to life, grow and prosper. As a long time Go Daddy customer, I have seen firsthand an organization that is committed to its customers 24 hours a day and seven days a week and yet there still remains much more we can do to enhance the customer experience. This is a fantastic opportunity, and I can't wait to hit the ground running in January."  

	The 2013 Webfest Global conference (previously known as DOMAINfest Global) coming up February 5-7 at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, California, made some key new additions to the show's agenda, including locations for several big evening social events.  The most exciting of those for many will be on Wednesday, Feb. 6, when registrants will enjoy dinner and
cocktails directly under the recently retired Endeavour space shuttle! The shuttle was recently moved to a new home in Los Angeles after successfully completing 25 missions into space and traveling nearly 123 million miles.  The Pavilion where Endeavour now resides also features exhibits, images and videos that offer unique insights into the incredible science, missions and crews that made Endeavour so successful. Former NASA Astronaut Garrett Reisman will make a special appearance at the event to share stories, answer questions and show souvenirs from past missions.  Webfest Global registration is now open and an Early Bird rate of $1,095 is available through the end of this month (it goes up to $1,295 January 1). Pioneering domain investor Roy Flanders, a published author who also happens to be one of the industry's most colorful and beloved characters, is making big waves  in his long time home town on Nantucket Island.  Flanders has pledged $250,000 (.pdf file) in one-to-one matching dollars for new donations to Nantucket Cottage Hospital's Annual Fund appeal made by the end of this calendar year. This year's annual fund drive is $700,000.   After dealing with some with some major health issues over the past year (or as Roy called it, "finally paying my dues for the best life imaginable" ), Roy said: I owe so much to so many, but especially when it comes to still being above ground: certainly Dr. Pearl, then all the state of the arts medical people and...stuff, the labs and scans and technicians. And to think, we have them all, right here on this tiny little island. Along with so many folks who care so much! Roy Flanders Roy, who has lived on Nantucket for more than 30 years, said "I hope everyone who lives or visits here will want to be engaged and supportive of our hospital. Please join up, and kick in anything you can afford – anything...Get all your friends to kick in too...I assure you that will feel very good. And remember: Each dollar you give will mean TWO dollars to Nantucket Cottage Hospital!" New donors and others who want to support the hospital's Annual Fund should mail contributions to Nantucket Cottage Hospital Foundation, 57 Prospect Street, Nantucket MA 02554, or call the foundation office at 508-825-8250. Visit www.NantucketHospital.org for more information about the hospital and to donate online. Also  this past week we got some insight into the .INFO aftermarket when Go Daddy conducted  a Premium .INFO Auction involving Sunrise domains that were finally released by registry operator Afilias. After being in "limbo" for 11 years,  103 domains were sold for a total of just over $279,000.  The top sales in the auction were Cancer.info and Gambling.info at $16,005 each. Loans.info landed $12,205 and there others; Medical.info, Property.info and Treatment.info went for $10,005 apiece. The average price for 103 domains sold was $2,714.

(Posted December 17, 2012)