Titans New Ownership
A bright, new era begins today for the Gold Coast Titans, with the National Rugby League awarding the club licence to the Frizelle-Kelly consortium.
This announcement ensures that the future of the Titans is secure, and that the club will remain on the Gold Coast for the people of our community.
As a major first step forward in this new era, the club is delighted to announce that Mr Dennis Watt will be joining the Titans immediately as the clubs new Executive Chairman.
Mr Watt is the former long-serving Director and Chairman of the Brisbane Broncos, and joins the Titans Board with a well-earned reputation as one of the most astute and professional sporting administrators in the country.
In his new role as Executive Chairman of the Titans, Dennis will work closely with Chief Executive Officer, Graham Annesley, to steer the club’s future path to long-term sustainability and success both on and off the field. Graham and Dennis have an outstanding personal relationship and both look forward with great excitement to supporting each other with the objective of building the club into one of the strongest franchises in the NRL.
Mr Watt announced in October of this year that he would be stepping down from the Broncos role, having overseen the development of that club’s high-performance centre in a year when the Broncos delivered the biggest profit in that club’s history. He is widely respected in the NRL for his leadership, and while at the Broncos was often called on to act as a spokesman for the collective 16 club chairmen on issues that affected the game.
Dennis was also a long-serving executive with News Corporation Australia, holding roles such as General Manager of Rugby League, General Manager of Queensland Newspapers, and General manager of Quest Community Newspapers during a career spanning 30 years with the company.
Joining Dennis on the Board will be current outstanding independent Board members, Griffith University Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Ned Pankhurst, Pindara Group of Hospitals CEO, Trish Hogan, founder of Hickey Lawyers and Chairman of Hickey Management, Tony Hickey, and CEO of TEG, Geoff Jones. The club would also like to acknowledge the contribution of Australian Paralympic Committee CEO, Lynne Anderson, who recently resigned from the Board after an invaluable contribution over recent years together with her fellow Directors.
The appointment of Dennis Watt means Rebecca Frizelle will not be resuming her previous role as club Chair. However, both Rebecca and Darryl Kelly will return to a restructured Titans Board as Directors reuniting with their former colleagues.
Rebecca said the appointment of Dennis Watt as Chairman was an incredible coup for the Titans, and a true signal that the club was beginning a new era.
“To have someone of Dennis’ calibre involved with the Titans, bringing his enormous experience and track record of success, is one of the most significant recruitment victories in the history of this club,” Ms Frizelle said.
“While I enjoyed my time as Chair of the Titans, I did not hesitate for a second in relinquishing the role to make way for someone of Dennis’ stature.
“Dennis is universally respected across the rugby league and business communities for the work he has done, the leadership he has shown and the success that he has delivered across different industries.
“We know that Dennis was in understandably high demand after deciding to leave the Broncos, so for him to join the Titans is a tremendous show of faith in the plans that we have for this club to reach its true potential.
“We take great pride in the fact that someone of Dennis’ standing in the game not only supported the plans we have for the club’s direction, but that he was excited enough by them to want to be personally involved in delivering that new future for the Gold Coast Titans.”
Rebecca and Darryl also thanked the NRL for their support during the long process surrounding the awarding of the club’s licence, in a decision that would ensure the Titans remained a club anchored in the Gold Coast community.
