CFO — Afternic
Twitter: @montagne
FAST FACTS
Session Name: Internet Commerce Association
Location: Cambirdge, Massachusetts
Domain name you wish you owned: Mountain.com
Favourite extension: .Saké
Now watching: Stranger Things (Season 2)
Now reading: La Chute by Albert Camus
Best city for a conference: Paris, France
Your mentor: Jason Hubbard
Q&A
Describe your company and how long you have been there.
I’ve been with Afternic.com since 2009. I joined when they were part of NameMedia and through the acquisition by GoDaddy in 2013.
What can attendees look forward to during your session?
Winter is Coming for the domain industry. We are facing threats that have the potential to fundamentally undermine what we do on a daily basis. Our session will highlight the ICA’s top priorities for 2018 and beyond and what our plans are to held protect our members.
What can attendees do in order to prepare for your session? Are there any questions or scenarios they should consider in advance?
Hit the ICA site, https://www.internetcommerce.org, see what we do, and join!
What would you like attendees to learn or take away from your session?
What the ICA is going to help our industry and how participants can help.
Can you tell us about how your service or product helps deliver value to your customers?
The ICA is an industry association formed to represent the domain investing industry in the policy arena.
What are your thoughts on the new TLDs?
Fascinating. Different registries using varied approaches for success – scale, innovation, marketing and branding. Still to soon to tell and there will be winners and losers but they are here to stay.
What kinds of changes do you foresee within the industry in the next year 5 years?
.Com will remain the gold standard for quality but new TLDs will continue to gain awareness and usage, the tide will rise but unevenly and some boats will sink.
What are you most looking forward to at the upcoming NamesCon?
Spending time with new and existing customers and business partners to identify opportunities for mutual gain in 2018+.
What industry trends or topics do you think will be at the forefront of panel and keynote discussions this year?
Developments in the policy arena that have potential major negative impacts on domain investing.
Whats something most people don’t know about you?
I recently switched to Independent from Republican.
How did you get your start in the industry?
I joined Afternic to work with several highly respected former Lycos colleagues so I could continue to learn from them.
What advice can you offer those who are just getting their start in the domain or related industry?
Fortune favors the well-prepared (Louis Pasteur). Take risks but do your homework, and you won’t find another industry where veterans are willing to help you succeed.
What was one of your biggest “a-ha!” moments in life?
Prioritize ruthlessly.
How does your career compare to what you envisioned in your youth?
I never thought I’d wear jeans to work everyday.
How would you describe what you do in a single sentence to a stranger?
Identify assets and areas of need where my company and yours can help each other.
If you had fifteen extra minutes each day, what would you do with them?
Learn another language.
Who has been the biggest influence on your life? What lessons did that person teach you?
Kazumi Tabata, teacher at Umass Lowell, once you decide what to pursue success is a factor of time, intensity/intelligence of effort, and necessity. Lacking any of the three you are unlikely to get there.
What’s the latest and greatest accomplishment in your career so far?
Working with the team to add new lines of business to Afternic to help drive significant growth for the organization.
Describe a recent challenge at work or in your personal life that you overcame.
I recently decided to extend a climb and cross a ridge to hit the Flume Summit in NH from Mt. Liberty, took hours longer than I expected due to icy conditions and I ended up coming down in the pitch black. I had forgotten my headlamp but fortunately I had the iPhone X, which is awesome battery life lit the way for me all the way to the trailhead. Lessons: Never forget your headlamp and always get the newest iPhone, it might save your life.
Where is your favourite place to escape?
Above the treeline in the White Mountains of New England.
What was the best advice you were ever given?
My father who said don’t ever be an &%$$$ (success in adhering to his advice has been spotty at times)
What object would you put in a time capsule that best represents who you are today?
A bottle of saké and a cohiba cigar.
Registered to speak at NamesCon Global 2018? We want to give conference attendees the opportunity to learn more about you before the show! Fill out the Speaker Profile form here.
