Central Coast Leagues Club (CCLC) in Gosford has appointed Bevan Paul as the club’s new chief executive officer.
He joins CCLC after serving as the CEO at Central Leagues Club Charlestown. Reflecting on his transition to CCLC, Paul noted the timing of the move was ideal.
“I was very fortunate to have the right job come up at the right time,” he told Club Management.
“I had been working with a club in the Lake Macquarie area that was in difficulty and over the subsequent year, we managed to steer the club back into cashflow positive territory.
“That work was largely finished, so the timing was right to pass back the reins, and I am very pleased to have a new role with new challenges.”
According to Paul, he’s eager to spearhead the next phase of the CCLC’s growth, following recent renovations.
“It’s also a good time to start at Central Coast Leagues Club as post-renovations the Club needs to regroup and plan the next steps towards its master plan objective,” he said.
Looking ahead, Paul is focused on aligning the club’s offering to match the changes happening in Gosford.
“There’s been a significant amount of capital deployed in the Gosford area in both the commercial and residential space, which provides both competitive challenges and fantastic opportunity via new residents moving into developments adjacent to the club,” Paul explained.
“In the very short-term, there is a need to regroup and realign our offering, and I particularly enjoy this aspect of my role where we can innovate.”
With 25 years of experience in the sector, Paul appreciates the responsibility that comes with working in the club industry.
“As an approved licensee of a NSW Club, we sell products and services that require us to always be vigilant about the delivery of these and also mindful of our duty to be a good and responsible steward of members money,” he said.
Despite the many changes in the industry, Paul believes that the core values of clubs remain consistent.
“The need to look after your members and their needs and wants haven’t really changed a lot,” he reflected.
However, he has observed shifts in the relationship between the regulatory bodies, media, and government.
“I don’t use the word ‘woke’ often, however, it is the most appropriate for some of the changes we’re seeing,” he remarked.
When it comes to the challenges facing the sector, Paul highlighted the impact of government policies on clubs.
“The built-in tax twice yearly increases for alcohol needs to be reviewed,” he said.
“Governments and the media are talking about inflation and revitalising the nighttime and entertainment economy, but I haven’t seen any agency pick up on the obvious issue of inflation being built in, and there’s not even a rudimentary effort to explain why. The ATO just states that whatever the CPI is that’s how much this tax will increase.”
Looking to the future, Paul is optimistic about the sector’s steady progression.
“Our role will continue to be to provide entertainment and a place to go for our customers, evolving along with them,” he said.
He also recognises there’ll be an ongoing need for diversification within clubs, noting that collaboration between clubs and government could present new opportunities.