Leader node appointment

Method, apparatus and computer program product for appointing a leader node from a group of nodes in a data communications network. Attribute data comprising status information of one or more nodes in the group is received. At least one attribute associated with the one or more nodes in the group is identified based at least in part on the received attribute data. A given node in the group is appointed, on behalf of the group, to be the leader node when status information has been received for nodes in the group. The appointment is based at least in part on identifying at least one attribute associated with the given node that it is desirable for the leader node to possess. Appointment announcement data announcing that the given node has been appointed as the leader node on behalf of the group is transmitted.