One of the Gold Coast's most successful business leaders has put her complete faith in the new governance of the Titans, signing on to become the first female chairman in the history of the NRL and previous ARL competition.
Rebecca Frizelle is joint dealer-principal and group operations manager at James Frizelle's Automotive Group and was one of two new appointments to the Titans' board of directors. Chief operating officer of Gold Coast Airport and chairman of Gold Coast Tourism Board, Paul Donovan, has also joined Frizelle, Michael Searle and Darryl Kelly on the four-person board.
The addition of two such prominent figures in the Gold Coast business world follows on from the appointment of Graham Annesley as CEO in October last year and acts a further indication that the club is winning back favour following the failed business dealings associated with the Centre of Excellence.
"This development is part of continued improved corporate governance of the Gold Coast Titans and arms us with an enormous pool of diverse business skills, networks and ingenuity to take us to a new level of success," said Kelly, who rescued the Titans from their perilous financial position in 2012 and in 2009 was named the NRL volunteer of the year.
"Paul and Rebecca bring a wealth of business experience and acumen, a strong network of contacts and a fresh aspect to our business. We are very fortunate to have them involved.
"Importantly, both are passionate about the future of the Gold Coast."
Frizelle has been a major contributor to the growth of the Frizelle Automotive Group's growth from 16 staff to now 540 staff in six locations and two states and while honoured to be a trailblazing female in rugby league, more importantly placed full faith in the current management structure at the Titans.
"We signed on as a sponsor of the Titans in 2006 and have been a passionate partner of the Titans ever since," said Frizelle. "I have a great faith in the Titans management and the club's potential and am very proud to associate my name with them.
"I'm naturally very proud and honoured to learn that I am the first female chairman in Australian rugby league at a professional level. I bring a female perspective which can at times be extremely different in some aspects, recognising that women are often the decision makers in families.
"I'd certainly like to see more females attend matches. It's a family game and we need to be targeting that enthusiastically, which I know the Titans already do."
Searle remains the majority shareholder of the Titans along with Kelly and Indian-based businessman Anshuman Magazine, who will not sit on the board.
Donovan's links with Gold Coast Tourism were a driving force in his desire to become involved with the Titans in a formal capacity, linking the club's on-field success with having significant impact on the local community.
"I've become involved with the Titans because I care about the Gold Coast and the Titans are a large part of the Gold Coast community," said Donovan, who has been a member of the Gold Coast Tourism board for eight years, and chairman for six.
"I want the Gold Coast to be successful and with that comes the Titans being successful.
"During my time on Gold Coast Tourism I'd like to think we have the best governance in terms of any board on the Gold Coast and I would like to replicate that with the Titans."
