A similar rule exists for the Kubernetes Steering Committee if we're looking for inspiration from other community organizations. They require any given company have no more than 1/3 representation (so a maximum of 2 seats on their 7 member committee), and lay out rules for how to handle this when problems arise: https://github.com/kubernetes/steering/blob/main/elections.md#maximal-representation
On Tue, Apr 14, 2026, 1:00 PM Barry O'Donovan via Pdb-gov < [email protected]> wrote: > > This discussion needs to be decoupled from the candidates, as I’d happily > give either my vote. > > This is simply a matter of good (corporate) governance: there should be a > limit of one on people serving as directors from the same organisation. > > As it stands, bylaw 2.3.2 > <https://docs.peeringdb.com/gov/legaldocs/2026-01-14_PeeringDB_Bylaws.pdf> > prevents > members who are affiliated with each other having more than one vote. It > surely then makes no sense to have two directors from the same org 🤷♂️ > > - Barry > > > > > > > On 14/04/2026 11:45:14, "John van Oppen via Pdb-gov" < > [email protected]> wrote: > > Why would we force this or make a rule vs just letting the voting > community decide? 2/5 is not an organizational risk, perception only risks > should be handled through the voting process in my mind. > > -----Original Message----- > From: Pdb-gov <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Theo > Voss via Pdb-gov > Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2026 9:43 AM > To: Stephen McManus <[email protected]> > Cc: Chris Caputo <[email protected]>; > [email protected]; Chris Caputo <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [PDB Gov] Risk of excessive DE-CIX influence on PeeringDB > > +1, 5 seats should represent the entire PeeringDB community. Having them > +occupied by 2 people from > the same company creates an unhealthy imbalance from my POV. > > Best regards, > Theo Voss, Inter.link > > -------- Original Message -------- > On Tuesday, 04/14/26 at 18:40 Stephen McManus via Pdb-gov < > [email protected]> wrote: > +1 to the perception problem. I would not consider running while Alex > Corso as we both work at Meta. I like working with both Yolandi and Arnold > but imo we should have a rule to prevent >1 sitting board member from the > same organization. > > I think a looser rule for committee membership could be considered as well > if we do consider that: > 2? > > -Steve > > > On Apr 14, 2026, at 11:50 AM, Chris Caputo via Pdb-gov < > [email protected]> wrote: > > At https://docs.peeringdb.com/gov/misc/2026-04-14_election.html I see > that two DE-CIX personnel are running for the 5-person PeeringDB > Board, based on their names also being present on > https://www.de-cix.net/en/about-de-cix/the-team: > > - Arnold Nipper, Chief Technology Evangelist and Co-Founder > > - Yolandi Cloete, Interconnection Community and Academy Manager > > While board members are expected to serve independently of their > affiliations, I am concerned about the potential risks of 2/5th's of > the PeeringDB Board having the same conflict of interest. > > Thus I ask that either Arnold or Yolandi rapidly consider withdrawing > from this election prior to the end of the April 14th 23:59:59 UTC > 2026 call for candidates, just over 8 hours from now. > > I am sure both individuals are upstanding, but the perception of > capture by DE-CIX is, in my opinion, not a good look and not a good > risk for the PeeringDB community to be faced with. > > Since I don't see Yolandi as even subscribed to pdb-gov@, I will > forward this to her after sending to the list. (Arnold is subscribed.) > > Thank you for your consideration. > > Chris > > > > >
