Proposed by: Jason Smith, Namesco Ltd
Seconded by: Ditlev Bredahl, UK2 Ltd

Additional statement from Dickie Armour

Dickie Armour – Election Statement

I am passionate about Nominet and its future and believe I have the business acumen, and that my many years of experience running a variety of businesses, will be of value to Nominet. I have no hidden agenda and I think you’ll see from the details on my personal website (http://www.dickiearmour.me.uk) that I am an honest, genuine and decent bloke who loves life.

Nominet is a very successful company with an ever increasing turnover. It is a sizeable business and the membership needs to make sure that the non-executive directors not only have the relevant experience in running businesses of this stature but also have the key skills that Nominet need and are currently lacking. I’m not a political animal and won’t be running an aggressive campaign based on anything other than I have the financial and business acumen to make a positive contribution.

Nominet’s marketing team recently introduced the Registrar Resources section of their website and I would like to see this area expanded. Using my extensive sales and marketing experience I hope to work closely with Phil Kingsland and his team to help raise Nominet’s profile and offer further sales and marketing support to all members.

As some of you will remember from my election statement last year I stated “I would like to see the surplus used in a sort of Nominet Trust Foundation way for the greater good of the wider UK Internet community.? I know some of us would rather see a rebate of some sort but under Nominet’s Articles of Association that is not possible. I think the Foundation is an extremely worthwhile cause through which the wider UK Internet community will now benefit.

One worry with both the PAB and Board elections is that so few members vote. It’s vital that we get a wider participation in these elections. My concern is that with only approx 10% of the membership voting, we don’t get a true reflection of the membership in the result. I think we would all like to see greater member participation and I will spend some of my focus, if elected, on improving membership engagement.

I support Nominet’s series of special resolutions for proposed changes to the Articles of Association, especially the addition of two appointed non-executive directors to the Board. I find it strange and a little concerning that at present Nominet can only appoint non-executive directors via an election process, in which only a minority of members vote. I think Nominet has lost out on some very good candidates and some past non-executive directors due to the current election set-up and I believe the introduction of appointed non-executive directors will help ensure Nominet is better placed to get the necessary talent and skill sets it requires.

Nominet has some exciting and challenging times ahead and needs to make certain that it remains well placed to react to the rapidly changing marketplace. I believe I will make a positive contribution and I ask for your support.

Curriculum Vitæ

Dickie Armour – Business History

I am General Manager of Fibranet Services Ltd and have been involved in the group directly and indirectly since 1999. I have over nine years experience of running Internet based businesses predominately based around domain name registration, software and web development and web hosting. Our main business interests are www.freeparking.co.uk and www.fibranet-services.co.uk.

Prior to the dot com crash I was Global Head of Sales concentrating on eCommerce software. After the crash I ran the dedicated server business within NTWebhost and PowerHost. Both businesses were successfully sold to Tollon Ltd in December 2002 and I went as part of the deal. I was Managing Director of Tollon for two years and oversaw all aspects of the hosting business from domain name registration and hosting through to broadband and software development. I sat on a round table forum at Microsoft’s first ever UK Hosting event and worked closely with Microsoft whilst we adopted their SPLA licencing model. Having served my time at Tollon I left and came back to Fibranet Services Ltd.

At Fibranet we are currently working on the launch of two new businesses and are continually adding new features, products and services to Freeparking. In 2006 Freeparking became an ICANN accredited domain registrar and this has helped increase Freeparking’s profile both nationally and internationally.

I also have an interest in an email business; www.letsgetpersonal.co.uk with a couple of friends. So many people still don't realise that it is very simple to buy their own domain name and have cool looking email instead of ISP branded email.  Through my fundraising efforts we've formed a partnership with Cancer Research UK and from every domain name sold we give 50p to the charity.

Prior to my Internet business life I was a stockbroker in the City for just over sixteen years. I began on the floor of the Stock Exchange and in 1983, at seventeen I was the youngest dealer on the floor. I saw huge changes during my career, from Big Bang in 1986 through to the introduction of electronic trading in the late 90s. The last firm I worked for in the City was Cantor Fitzgerald International where I helped introduce their e-Speed business, a new electronic trading platform which the market makers used to enter their own prices into Cantor’s systems. It was the first of its kind.

I have over twenty five years experience in business, well developed interpersonal skills and a proven background in developing and maintaining business relationships at the highest levels. I am self motivated, highly positive and a good team player. I am honest and still follow the Stock Exchange’s motto; "Dictum Meum Pactum": my word is my bond. I have been successful in helping run many businesses across a range of sectors and I hope to put these skills to good use for Nominet.