Rod Beckstrom, a former US cybersecurity chief, has served as CEO of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers since July 2009. No reason was given for his departure, and no successor was named.

ICANN is the organization that sets policies on domain names — the monikers behind every website and e-mail address. In June, ICANN approved new guidelines meant to significantly expand the address system. Only a handful of domains, including .”net” and .”com,” are currently open for general use worldwide. Hundreds of new suffixes such as .”bank” and .”eco” could be established by late 2012.

Also in June, ICANN elected a new chairman, Internet pioneer Steve Crocker.