Fred Mercaldo Resigns as President of Associated Cities

I just received word that Fred Mercaldo has announced his resignation as President of Associated Cities, an organization made up of city .com domain names that produces the annual GeoDomain Expo.

Mercaldo issued a brief statement to me when I asked him about his resignation:

“I thought I could have a positive impact on the culture of the organization, and successfully mediate the legal disputes that continue between the founding members.  My goal was to reestablish AC as an asset to its great membership base.  While I thought I was making progress these last 5 months, I really wasn’t, and the time commitment that the position required was beginning to impact my responsibilities at our growing network of 65 City.com sites, and I could not allow that.”

I know Fred was an Associated Cities Board Member for a few years prior to taking on this role, and he spent much time representing the geodomain industry. As far as I am aware, this was an unpaid position, as was the board position.

Elliot Silver
Elliot Silver
About The Author: Elliot Silver is an Internet entrepreneur and publisher of DomainInvesting.com. Elliot is also the founder and President of Top Notch Domains, LLC, a company that has closed eight figures in deals. Please read the DomainInvesting.com Terms of Use page for additional information about the publisher, website comment policy, disclosures, and conflicts of interest. Reach out to Elliot: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

19 COMMENTS

  1. Mercaldo was a hothead and immature. He could have really taken this new nonprofit trade association someplace, but he was out of his league, and this resignation shows it.

  2. @Henderson:
    You’re kidding, right? Are we speaking about the same Fred Mercaldo? I have no idea who you are or what motive you have for typing something so completely ridiculous, but I can assure you that Fred is one of the most level headed and responsible people I know. His resignation is a huge, and perhaps, insurmountable loss for Associated Cities.

  3. @Elliot:
    I agree, Elliot. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but there is nothing worse than taking a slanderous shot at someone while hiding behind the skirt of an alias. Especially at a class act like Fred. Despicable.

  4. Fred Mercaldo is one the most stand-up businessmen in the domain industry. Period. Fred is a true leader – outstanding character, unquestionable talent. Echoing David, this is a huge loss to AC.

    @Henderson
    I don’t know who you are and frankly, I don’t care. Govern yourself accordingly.

  5. Bulletin…Henderson named President of ABTA (Anonymous Blog Trolls Association). Group impressed by his ability to spout off on a topic he obviously knows nothing whatsoever about.

    P.S. Note to Village – please come and get your Idiot.

  6. I’ve worked with Fred for years and can say the person who posted negatively about him must have a hidden agenda of some kind. Fred is one of the most universally respected businessmen I have come across in the 10+ years I have known him. I wouldn’t put my name on the line for very many people, but Fred is a clear exception. He is a true visionary within his industry, and has been a trusted mentor since I started my first company 15 years ago. My only problem with Fred is the amount of money he has taken off my hands on the golf course.

  7. Just reading the dipstick henderson post on Fred.
    all I can say is Fred is 100% stand up guy who did a great job with associated cities.

    AC have lost a great captain of industry in the geo domain world who could handle the flak and personallity of the diffrent geo owners and guide them in the right direction to make AC a success.

    it was a brave person who took the role on when there was so many issues by some partners and Fred pulled it off.
    Sorry to see AC losing the best guy for the job.

  8. Fred is truly a hard worker, honest. You can tell he is the real deal, answers the tough questions

    I had the honor in talking to him on long talks on a possible deal and was truly amazing. Unfortunately the owner sold the domain name and didn’t bring the name to his network. I will always remember how Fred presented himself and hope one day I can work with him in the future with a name I own directly

    Sometimes tough decisions need to be made and focus on what your building out. Fred knows this, Jessica and I’m sure Elliot realizes things on developments and running the best domain blog around.

    Also Jessica is truly remarkable as well and not a fake. Was a pleasure in speaking with her as well.

  9. I have personally experienced nothing but honesty, integrity and a willingness to share.

    Fred has one agenda, making the geo domain industry a better place for us.

    Fred is a class act!

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