TITANS chief executive Graham Annesley has announced former Manly prop and current NSW Hockey CEO Tony Mestrov as the Gold Coast NRL club’s new chief operations officer.

Mestrov replaces Brian Canavan who was headhunted to return to Sydney to take up the role of NRL head of football.

Annesley said Mestrov would be returning to the game he loves after an impressive career in the corporate and sporting sector.

media_camera Titans CEO Graham Annesley, pictured at the construction site in Parkwood, this morning announced the appointment of NSW Hockey CEO Tony Mestrov as Titans new chief operating officer. Pics Adam Head

Mestrov compiled more than 150 first grade games in a rugby league career in Australia and Super League in the 1990s.

“Tony’s breadth of knowledge and experience as a player, a business executive and a sports administrator make him a great acquisition and a valuable asset for the Titans,” Annesley said.

“After an impressive playing career for South Sydney, Manly, London Broncos and Wigan, Tony went on to build a successful business career as an account manager in the radio industry, a sponsorship manager for an NRL club, commercial director for a sports management business and national sales manager for a property company.

media_camera Mestrov (far right) playing for Manly in 1992.

“But even more impressively, for the last four years Tony has been the CEO of Hockey NSW, an Olympic sport where he has overseen a restructure of the organisation and the implementation of a five-year strategic plan, resulting in significant revenue growth and profitability. He has also introduced major governance reform, streamlined development pathways and grown participation.”

Mestrov said he was excited to return to rugby league and join a Titans club building on and off the field.

“Rugby league is my first love, and my discussions with the Titans over recent weeks have left me in no doubt this is a club with great people and unlimited potential,” Mestrov said.

“I’ve enjoyed my time away from the game while I’ve continued to hone my business and sports administration skills, but it has always been my ambition to return to the NRL and continue to contribute to the game that has given me so much.

“I can’t wait to take up my new role and build on the great work already underway by the Titans’ board, management and football department in guiding the club to continuous improvement and sustainable success.”