A keen football follower, Mensink has been associated with Palmer's Mineralogy company for over 15 years, becoming a director in September 2006.

Mensink's involvement in the world game dates back to his junior days as player and more latterly in 2003 when he was treasurer of local Brisbane club, North Star Football Association.

Palmer said he was confident Mensink, 40, would provide all the necessary business and sport-specific knowledge required to steer the club through its formative years.

"We've appointed Clive Mensink because we know he has an excellent track record as a CEO, a position he holds at Mineralogy," said Palmer.

"More importantly, he's the Deputy Chairman of Australasian Resources, which is a publicly listed company, so he's used to the high demands and requirements of corporate life.

"He is completely familiar with corporate governance and how to run a high-end operation, so it is for those reasons we believe Clive will be a very good CEO for Gold Coast United.

"Clive is also a great football enthusiast having played the game since he was a youngster; he loves the game."

As the first Chief Executive of Gold Coast United FC, Mensink said he was delighted with the appointment and was eager to begin implementing strategic planning for the club with community involvement high on United's list of initial priorities.

"This is very exciting appointment for me and I will be doing everything I can to ensure the people of the Gold Coast and its surrounding regions have the very best club in the Hyundai A-League," Mensink said.

"We want to make Gold Coast United representative of the region and provide career pathways for local players. This will be a team and a club that local supporters will be proud of.

"We won't be taking anything for granted and will be working very hard to win the hearts and minds of the football community, the community at large and the corporate world.

"We want families to embrace what we are all about and be part of the club, both in its early stages and as we move forward into the future."

With the success of the Gold Coast Soccer Federation's junior program already providing a solid base for a production line of young talent, Mensink said one of the club's goals is to raise the profile of the grassroots game in the region.

He added: "Gold Coast Soccer Federation has done a great job with the code and junior participation levels are superb.

"That becomes our foundation for success and gives us a great platform to build upon and grow our market share.

"As a club we are there to be successful and our intent is for that success to filter back to the grassroots. A flourishing professional club that engages the community will be fantastic for the code on the Gold Coast.

"We have time ahead of us to get everything right before we enter the competition in 2009 and we must use that time wisely. This is where the work starts."