How Our Merge Will Make Us Smarter, Bigger and Better

FRI has have taken a big leap forward and joined forces with Go Global to provide our clients with a rejuvenated focus and a broader team with a greater depth of experience in franchising, particularly in learning and organisational development.

FRI has operated in the franchising sector for 22 years and has built an enviable reputation, both in Australia and overseas, for delivering unique psychological research, tools and educational programs that focus on the people issues in franchising. Go Global, which was established in 2010 by ex-Gloria Jeans Global Capability Manager, Karli Furmage, has been supporting a number of Australian franchise networks in refocusing their structures and strategies for growth. The merge gives FRI a national presence and enables it to offer a broader range of services.

To facilitate more of a national structure, Greg Nathan will be moving to Melbourne to establish FRI’s Melbourne office. Karli Furmage is relocating to Brisbane to oversee the Support Office where most of the team are based. FRI also has team members in Sydney and Perth. FRI’s corporate psychology team of Ree-Anna Chatman, Joanna Connolley and Nicole Simpson will remain with the business in Brisbane, as will Melbourne based FRI agent, Bruno Ceraso.

According to Greg Nathan, the Go Global team will bring added depth in franchise operations and strategic learning. “People such as Jason Travis, who has supported franchise operations in over 20 countries, and Rob Camm who co-founded Franchise Careers and later sold his share to go and work in the USA, will add enormous experience to our team”, he says. “Merging the two companies gives us a unique, high level blend of psychological expertise and franchise operational and strategic experience. This is going to be fantastic for our clients.”

The merged business will operate under the Franchise Relationships Institute brand, with the team continuing to offer franchisors access to evidence-based research, management tools, in-house franchise learning programs and public events. These include its patented Nathan Profiler for franchisee selection, its Franchisee Effectiveness Surveys and its popular Multi-Unit and Field Manager Summits.

The new look FRI will be jointly led by Greg Nathan and Karli Furmage with Karli Furmage heading business operations and Greg Nathan heading research and development, which is seen as critical for the company’s global strategy. As part of this leadership restructure existing CEO, Anthony Cannell, will be leaving the business. Greg Nathan says, “We were reluctant to see Anthony go as he has done an amazing job in helping us to grow the business and negotiate several important international agreements. However the addition of several new senior executives, and the fact that Anthony is based in Sydney, means we need to make adjustments to the leadership structure.”

“We are excited about the new look FRI and will continue to deliver the products and services globally that FRI is known and loved for” says Karli Furmage. “The bench strength we have added to the team now means we can provide fresh strategies and services that franchisors have been crying out for, to assist them to further grow and develop their people and their businesses.”