The Melbourne Football Club is pleased to announce two new directors, with David Rennick and Brad Green joining the Board, effective from November 1, 2020. 

The pair will fill casual vacancies created by the resignation of Jane Martino earlier in the year and the retirement of David Thurin AM, after more than 13 years on the Board, as part of the Club's Board succession programme. Thurin’s retirement is effective from the end of October.

Rennick joins the Board with more than 25-years’ experience in the legal and property industries. He is currently a Partner and Global Board member of Pinsent Masons. Prior to that, he was Head of Australia for Pinsent Masons, CEO of an Australian law firm and a Director of an ASX-listed property development company. His responsibilities encompass leadership, people and client strategies and management. Rennick’s areas of expertise include master-planned community projects, property development, corporate, commercial and retail real estate.

Green returns to the Club that he captained and played 254 games for, in a career that spanned 13 seasons. After retiring from football, Green transitioned into coaching roles at both Carlton and North Melbourne, and held a mentoring role as a leadership consultant for the Melbourne Renegades during the 2019/2020 season. Green also runs his own commercial business, as the Managing Director of GMH Fire and Safety Australia.

Led by Chairman Glen Bartlett, the Melbourne Board has reviewed its composition over the past 12 months, to ensure the right mix is in place to achieve the strategic objectives it has set out for the next three years. This process identified that with Thurin retiring from the Board, ongoing expertise in the commercial real estate space was required. It was also identified that a director with a strong AFL background was necessary, given the Club’s core business. 

Bartlett said he was delighted to welcome both Rennick and Green onto the Board, and looks forward to their contributions for years to come.

“Over the last 12 months, the Board has carried out an extensive review of the required skills, experience and attributes benchmarking our board. We then ran a confidential process to identify and interview potential candidates and are delighted that Brad and David are prepared to volunteer their time,” he said.

“They are both very committed to our strategic priorities, have strong values and integrity consistent with what we are looking for with regard to our board, and are both team players. The Board are of the view that they will complement our current structure.”

“David brings a wealth of experience with regard to Leadership and People, having been the CEO of both an Australian Law firm and more recently Pinsent Masons Australia, a leading global law firm. As a lawyer and former Director of an ASX-listed property development company, David has a strong background in real estate law, commercial property and strategic planning. His experience is of great benefit regarding our top off-field priority, of building and establishing our home base and training facility within the MCG precinct.”

“Brad really needs no introduction; a talented player for our Club for more than a decade; a former Club Captain with coaching experience at Carlton, North Melbourne and the Melbourne Renegades – bringing with him knowledge from an array of elite sporting organisations. He impresses with his humility, strong sense of values and commitment to give back to the Melbourne Football Club.”

Bartlett also thanked Martino and Thurin for their significant contributions to the Club. 

“David has been a dedicated board member for over 13 years. He has contributed as a board member and to this Club in so many ways, including being a member of numerous committees and most recently, Chair of our Investment Committee. As a life member of the Club, David’s impact on the board will be long-lasting, he brought an inquisitive mind and Melbourne passion to the table, which has served us incredibly well.

“On behalf of the whole Club, the Board and myself personally, we thank David for devoting thousands of hours of his time and for his valuable contribution for more than a decade. We thank his wife Lisa and his family for their support too, and we will recognise David in the right way on the other side of COVID-19.

“I would also like to thank Janey for her contribution to the Board and the Club over five years, alongside many commitments. Janey brought new perspective and ideas and really assisted us in the branding space, as well as participating in a number of other committees, including chairing the Innovation Committee. 

“We wish Janey and David all the best. I would like to also thank their wonderful families, who have supported them as board members but who have also, in their way, contributed to the Club. 

“David and Janey, you will always be part of the Melbourne family.”