YNOT EUROPE – Claudio Menegatti and Mark Harrison, both veterans of the European online adult entertainment industry, will take the lead in marketing dot-xxx domain names to Europeans, registrar ICM Registry announced.

ICM named Harrison, formerly of Dating Factory, manager of European operations. He and Menegatti will work together to blank European trade shows and events, and to meet with large companies that are interested in participating in the new adults-only domain space.

Also tapped on Friday by ICM are industry vets Chris Lebrun, Pete Housley and Tony Schehtman. The three will pursue ICM’s sales and marketing agendas in North and South America.

Lebrun, formerly an advertising account executive for AVN Media Network, will focus on developing North American relationships.

“We are very excited to have Chris on the team,” said ICM’s Greg Dumas. “I’ve admired his professionalism and sales skills since he was at AVN and [previously at] Leisure Time [Video]. He has a stellar reputation and strong work ethic.”

Schehtman will provide “invaluable experience and knowledge of the vast and mostly untapped [Brazilian] market,” according to Dumas.

Housley, founder and CEO of The NaughtyTweet Network, will head ICM’s social media marketing initiative across all markets.

“Without a focus on social media and targeted adult marketing and advertising, the launch of dot-xxx will miss many possible participants,” Dumas said. “ICM found the best person to get this done with Pete, and I look forward to working with him.”

ICM also revealed it plans to launch the “sunrise” and “landrush” phases of dot-xxx registration in early September. Consequently, the company has extended through July 31 its Founders Program, which licenses premium dot-xxx domains to “leading members of the sponsored adult entertainment community” at no charge, as long as the licensees agree to develop websites that will add some sort of value to the dot-xxx space as a whole.

“By participating in the Founders Program, sponsored community members can secure premium generic domains plus their existing portfolio that they wish to develop in dot-xxx,” an ICM statement noted. “However, there will be a limited number of founders, and domains are being allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to qualifying applicants.

“ICM has already executed numerous Founders contracts [with] leading companies that will be announced shortly,” the statement continued. “We anticipate that the program will be limited to 50 participants. All inquiries are always confidential.”

Businesses and individuals interested in participating may contact ICM by email.

Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.-based ICM is a major sponsor of the upcoming Eurowebtainment and eXXXotica Miami trade shows.