Centralnic Group PLC (LON:CNIC)

One of the world's pioneering registry service providers, CentralNic Ltd (a wholly-owned subsidiary of CentralNic Group PLC) provides registry services, distribution, and strategic consultancy for new TLDs, ccTLDs and SLDs.

CentralNic uses its in-house developed IT platforms to distribute its portfolio of popular domains to a global network of over 1,500 registrars (retailers such as GoDaddy LLC), which sell these to end users. Further, CentralNic provides consultancy services to companies seeking to create their own domains.

CentralNic's powerful registry engine has more than 20 years' track record of uninterrupted service, and it is supported by innovative marketing and personal customer service. CentralNic's flexible and scalable platform is above ICANN specification for new TLDs.

CentralNic operates from its headquarters in London. CentralNic also has on-the-ground account executives in Los Angeles, Abu Dhabi, and Beijing.

Infrastructure and IT

CentralNic has developed and now operates a proprietary registry engine. Over the course of recent years, CentralNic has upgraded its technology to ensure that it is compliant with the more stringent technical standards required by ICANN in order to act as a registry for new gTLDs. The CentralNic solution is fully ICANN compliant and was developed in house with the specific aim of meeting ICANN requirements.

CentralNic has achieved a 100 per cent. track record of DNS availability for domains delegated to it over a period of fifteen years. Key features of CentralNic’s system include:

• IPv6 support (both registry and DNS);
• full internationalised domain name (IDN) support since 2000; and
• DNS servers in over 40 different countries to provide confidence of ongoing 100 per cent. uptime, regardless of man made or natural disasters.

CentralNic is committed to innovation, and is actively involved in the introduction and development of new technologies including EPP and RDAP. In addition to its own in-house registry system, CentralNic has also provided technical consultation to a number of gTLD and ccTLD operators. CentralNic develops a range of utilities and software libraries in a collaborative, open source fashion. For more information, please visit the CentralNic Labs.

ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO 22301 Certification

CentralNic's operations are certified against the ISO 27001 (information security management), ISO 9001 (quality management system) and ISO 22301 (business continuity management) internationally recognised standards. These certifications provide CentralNic’s partners with additional levels of assurance as to the technical integrity of the company’s IT systems.

Operations

To provide an uninterrupted service, CentralNic operates a network of domain name servers to guarantee maximum reliability and performance. CentralNic operates DNS servers in more than a dozen locations, and new nodes are installed regularly. Click here to see a map of the global nameserver infrastructure.

History

In 2016, CentralNic celebrated 20 years as a specialist domain industry registry, using its own unique portfolio of domain names including uk.com and eu.com to sell domains such as avon.uk.com. Over the years, CentralNic has secured arrangements with the owners of many other domains (including .LA and .PW) to include these in its global distribution network and share the revenues received. In the period from its establishment, CentralNic built up a global distribution network of over 1,500 entities authorised to retail the CentralNic domain portfolio, representing over 50 per cent of the global retail market. CentralNic has recently signed a contract with the world’s largest registrar, GoDaddy, which will increase CentralNic’s coverage of the global retail market to 83 per cent.

CentralNic's technology platform was developed in-house and is fully compliant with the standards set by the industry regulator.

During 2011 and 2012, CentralNic embarked on a number of growth strategies, including winning new gTLD and ccTLD clients. CentralNic secured contracts with clients applying for 60 new gTLDs to provide registry, distribution and, in some cases, marketing services.

Carbon Neutral

In May 2011, CentralNic succeeded in attaining CarbonNeutral status and continues to retain this status to date. The company has been working on reducing its carbon footprint to net zero, taking the lead on environmental commitment within the domain name industry. All the emissions relating to the company, including energy consumption, waste and business travel, are quantified and then reduced through combining internal changes (for example, using virtualization technology and more efficient servers to reduce power consumption in its data centers, increasing recycling and implementing low carbon vehicles) with carbon offsetting. Through offsetting, every tonne of CO2 is matched by an equivalent amount saved by a significant renewable energy or resource conservation project.

Company Information

CentralNic Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales with company number 4985780. Its VAT registration number is 190030448.

4th Floor, Saddlers House, 44 Gutter Lane, London, EC2V 6BR.

CentralNic Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CentralNic Group PLC.

ccTLDs

New TLDs

SLDs

Registrars

Buy a Domain

Complte TLD List

UK, USA and China.

Mike Turner - Chairman

Mike is a world leader in European and Trans-Atlantic Technology M&A. He has over 30 years of experience working in London, New York and Los Angeles, advising private and publicly held clients on corporate transactions in technology, telecoms, advertising/marketing services, traditional/digital media, internet and e-commerce sectors. Mike is a Partner and International Head of Technology Media and Communications at the international law firm Taylor Wessing. Previously, Mike was a General Partner responsible for technology investments at Oakfield Partners. Mike obtained an LLB at the University of Reading.

Benjamin Crawford - Chief Executive Officer

Ben Crawford is one of the best-known figures in the domain industry, featuring extensively on ICANN’s “Ask the Experts” website and is frequently quoted in the global media. Ben has been the Chief Executive Officer of CentralNic since 2009, successfully launching the company into new markets including the Middle East, Japan and Russia, as well as winning 60 new TLD and the .PW ccTLD contracts. Ben is a specialist in global business and corporate development – his former positions included Founding President of Louise Blouin Media, integrating 11 acquisitions in three countries and launching artinfo.com; Managing Director of SportBusiness Group, where he launched the world’s leading online gambling trade media group, iGamingBusiness.com; and Executive Producer of the official website of the Sydney Olympic Games. Ben has an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management and a First Class Honours Degree from the University of Sydney.

Don Baladasan - Chief Financial Officer

Don, a Chartered Management Accountant, has several years' experience of being Finance Director of AIM listed companies. Over the last five years he has assisted AIM listed businesses in raising £25 million of equity in addition to overseeing a series of acquisitions including reverse takeovers. Don has several years' experience of integrating internationally acquired companies from a finance, governance and commercial perspective. This experience was gained at Stemcor, an international steel trader which at the time had operations in 46 countries and a turnover in excess of £6bn, where Don was Head of Accounting Development. Don initially studied Medicine at Guys Hospital before completing a BSc in Economics at CASS Business School. He was then awarded a place on the Financial Times graduate scheme where he trained as a Chartered Management Accountant.

Iain McDonald - Non Executive Director

Iain is a global expert in technology and e-commerce, having had a strong track record in investing in early stage companies such as ASOS, The Hut Group, Eagle Eye Solutions, Anatwine and Metapack. He is an advisor to the William Currie Group, a family office founded by financier Bill Currie to invest mainly in technology and e-commerce companies. Iain is also a non-executive director of various of his investee companies, as well as other technology companies such as My Sale Group plc and Houseology Design Group Limited, and was nominated as a NED of the year in 2015 by the Sunday Times NED Awards. Previously, Iain was a top-ranked retail and e-commerce analyst and held positions in a number of UK investment banks. Iain graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), with a Bsc in Economics & Economics History.

Samuel Dayani - Non Executive Director

Samuel Dayani is a partner at the Joseph Samuel Group and responsible for managing the group investments and business development. He is also a Director of Opes Industries Ltd, a waste to energy, landfill and recycling business. From 2001-2005, Samuel was the Chief Operating Officer and then Managing Director of ViaVision Ltd, an interactive TV company, before it was sold to Yoomedia plc. Samuel graduated from Queen Mary College, University of London with a BSc in Business and Biology in 2000.

Thomas Rickert - Non Executive Director

Thomas Rickert is an attorney-at-law in Germany. He is the owner of Rickert Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH, a law firm with offices in Bonn and Frankfurt am Main. Thomas has extensive experience in the domain industry working on domain disputes as well as advising Registrars, Registry Service Providers and new gTLD applicants both on contractual as well as policy matters. Thomas is an expert speaker on domain related subjects both at the national and international level. Thomas has been appointed by ICANN’s Nominating Committee to serve on the Council of the Generic Names Supporting Organisation (GNSO), which is the body responsible for developing policy for generic domain names.

Thomas Pridmore - Non Executive Director

Tom Pridmore began his career as a solicitor at Norton Rose, specialising in corporate finance, where he acted on behalf of institutional clients in relation to a variety of corporate finance and M&A activities. Tom then joined Flextech/Telewest Plc as Head of Corporate Strategy, where he was responsible for directing investment into strategic Internet and interactive television companies. In 2000, Tom co-founded the international fund manager and investment adviser Development Capital Management Limited. In this capacity he has set-up and managed real estate investment and development operations in Turkey, India, North Africa, Eastern Europe and the UK on behalf of both institutional and private clients.

Gavin Brown - Chief Technology Officer

Gavin has worked at CentralNic since 2001, becoming chief technology officer in 2005. He has responsibility for all aspects of CentralNic’s Registry Engine and all technical elements of the integrated global reseller network. He is a highly respected figure in the domain industry and has been published in several professional technical journals and as well as participating in a number of technical public policy and advocacy groups.

Post and Phone:

CentralNic Global Headquarters
Contact for: general enquiries, support, sales
CentralNic Ltd.
4th Floor, Saddlers House, 44 Gutter Lane,
London, EC2V 6BR
Tel: +44 (0)20 33 88 0600

CentralNic USA Office
Contact for: sales only
CentralNic USA Ltd.
885 Harrison Street SE,
Leesburg, VA 20175
Tel: +1 703 574 3831

CentralNic China
Contact for: sales only
Tel: +85263723963 (1400hrs - 2100hrs local time)

Press Contact
For PR enquiries please contact our London Headquarters on +44 (0)20 33 88 0600 or via email at [email protected]

Post and Phone:

CentralNic Global Headquarters
Contact for: general enquiries, support, sales
CentralNic Ltd.
4th Floor, Saddlers House, 44 Gutter Lane,
London, EC2V 6BR
Tel: +44 (0)20 33 88 0600

CentralNic USA Office
Contact for: sales only
CentralNic USA Ltd.
885 Harrison Street SE,
Leesburg, VA 20175
Tel: +1 703 574 3831

CentralNic China
Contact for: sales only
Tel: +85263723963 (1400hrs - 2100hrs local time)

Press Contact

For PR enquiries please contact our London Headquarters on +44 (0)20 33 88 0600 or via email at [email protected]