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ICANN’s Organizational Objectives for Fiscal Year 2026

8 July 2025
By
Kurtis Lindqvist

Kurtis Lindqvist

President and Chief Executive Officer

Kurt Erik “Kurtis” Lindqvist is a seasoned technology executive and business leader who became President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) on 9 December 2024. With more than 30 years of experience in engineering and business development of Internet service providers, Internet Exchange Points, and global network carriers, Lindqvist has dedicated his career to advancing the stability, security, and accessibility of the Internet.

Prior to joining ICANN, Lindqvist served as CEO of the London Internet Exchange (LINX), a leading operator of worldwide interconnection services, from 2019 to 2024. Prior to this, he was CEO of Netnod from 2002 to 2015. Lindqvist also chaired the European Internet Exchange Association (Euro-IX) from 2003 to 2020, which underscores his long-standing leadership in Internet infrastructure organizations.

Lindqvist has been a leading voice in Internet governance (IG) and technical development. He served on the Internet Architecture Board (IAB) and led working groups within the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and RIPE, where his efforts helped shape critical Internet standards and policies. Additionally, he has advised the Swedish government on IG, broadband policy, and other key areas, fostering collaboration between public and private sectors.

Lindqvist studied Computer Science at Uppsala University, Sweden, and holds an Executive MBA from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland. 

I am excited to share ICANN's Organizational Objectives for fiscal year 2026 (FY26), which went into effect on 1 July 2025.

The FY26 Organizational Objectives essentially replace the CEO Goals that ICANN published in the past and will act as the organizational Objectives and Key Results to track the ICANN organization's (org) progress on the FY26 Operating Plan and Budget.

The Organizational Objectives will form the basis for objective-setting for the Executive Team members and myself. This in turn will be the basis for more individual objectives throughout the organization, thereby providing "line of sight" of how activities roll up to the Strategic Plan.

These objectives are focused on delivering the new ICANN Strategic Plan for FY26–30. Delivery will cover progressing the work on continuous improvement and reviews together with the community, promoting digital inclusion, and opening the next round of the New Generic Top-Level Domains Program. ICANN's work with the Coalition for Digital Africa will also continue with the aim of further broadening our outreach and engagement in Africa.

During FY26, ICANN org will develop a stronger meetings strategy and planning for ICANN Public meetings in parallel with the How We Meet Project to deliver more cost-effective community engagement. Our work to strengthen the community's participation, particularly among new members, and develop community leadership will continue. ICANN org also will continue, in close coordination with the community, to help refine and evolve the policy development process.

Expanding our approach to combating Domain Name System Abuse and upholding contractual compliance and reporting continues to be an important focus in FY26. ICANN org also will work to strengthen the Root Server System (RSS) and coordinate with the Regional Internet Registries by supporting the work of the RSS Governance Working Group and the effort to update ICP-2.

We will substantially focus on ICANN's organizational excellence in reporting, rewards, and leadership development, as well as the development of a new IT Strategy. ICANN org also will ensure the delivery of the Public Technical Identifiers FY26 Operating Plan and Budget for the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority.

I invite you to read the ICANN Organizational Objectives for FY26 to learn more about the org's areas of focus for this fiscal year.

Authors

Kurtis Lindqvist

Kurtis Lindqvist

President and Chief Executive Officer
Kurtis Lindqvist

Kurtis Lindqvist

President and Chief Executive Officer

Kurt Erik “Kurtis” Lindqvist is a seasoned technology executive and business leader who became President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) on 9 December 2024. With more than 30 years of experience in engineering and business development of Internet service providers, Internet Exchange Points, and global network carriers, Lindqvist has dedicated his career to advancing the stability, security, and accessibility of the Internet.

Prior to joining ICANN, Lindqvist served as CEO of the London Internet Exchange (LINX), a leading operator of worldwide interconnection services, from 2019 to 2024. Prior to this, he was CEO of Netnod from 2002 to 2015. Lindqvist also chaired the European Internet Exchange Association (Euro-IX) from 2003 to 2020, which underscores his long-standing leadership in Internet infrastructure organizations.

Lindqvist has been a leading voice in Internet governance (IG) and technical development. He served on the Internet Architecture Board (IAB) and led working groups within the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and RIPE, where his efforts helped shape critical Internet standards and policies. Additionally, he has advised the Swedish government on IG, broadband policy, and other key areas, fostering collaboration between public and private sectors.

Lindqvist studied Computer Science at Uppsala University, Sweden, and holds an Executive MBA from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland. 

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