Quinn’s Pride in role
Interim CEO vows to build sponsor base
THE Northern Pride rugby league club board has temporarily installed former property valuer and Waterskiing Queensland Club president Mark Quinn in the top job before starting a recruitment process to replace Greg Dowling.
The club confirmed on the weekend it had parted ways with Mr Dowling, a former State of Origin legend, after more than a month of talks.
Mr Quinn said his first task was to bolster sponsorship and community engagement at the Cairns rugby league franchise.
“I have a small business background and some events and sports management experience. I love it. I’m very excited to get to work. They’re great people at the Pride and we’re in rugby league heartland here,” he said.
“I’m casting (the issue with Dowling) aside and focusing on building the sponsor base. I want to do right by all our great volunteers and supporters.
“I would really like to thank Mt Peter Estate, CSF and Brothers for coming back on board as sponsors and we’re working with some other smaller businesses.”
Mr Quinn said he would consider taking on the permanent chief executive role but that was “not going to happen tomorrow”.
The former Herron Todd White director and vice president of Cairns Amateurs was born in Cairns and has strong family links to the area through his wife as well.
Northern Pride chairman Tony Williamson said the board was set the task to find a new, commercially-savvy and well-known local to head up the club and were fortunate to have found Mr Quinn.
He said recruitment would start within two months.
“We will go to the market in October with a national campaign to find a new CEO,” Mr Williamson said.
“We expect it to be a sixweek process. We have been fielding calls already.”
The Pride will play its last regular home game at Barlow Park this weekend against the Tweed Heads Seagulls and will play the semi-finals next week.