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New North Queensland chief executive Jeff Reibel says the NRL club is well placed headed into the post Johnathan Thurston era.

Jeff Reibel will lead North Queensland into the post-Johnathan Thurston era, with the NRL club unveiling him as their new chief executive.

Reibel, whose brother Grant played for the Cowboys between 2000 and 2002, has been acting in the role since Greg Tonner resigned five months ago.

He has previously been employed by the club in sales, marketing and commercial roles dating back to 2003, and has also worked for the Gold Coast Titans and V8 Supercar team Erebus Motorsport.

Former player Michael Luck will also be the Cowboys' new chief operating officer, after filling the role in an interim capacity over summer.

"You're never going to replace Johnathan Thurston," Reibel said.

"But when you look at the recruitment and retention from the football perspective, Josh McGuire is here now, Coen Hess has re-signed with the club, Jason Taumalolo on a 10-year deal, Michael Morgan on a five-year deal.

"We've got the great nucleus of a football team we're proud to have both on and off the field in North Queensland."

The Cowboys also face a busy period off-field, with the move to their new stadium closer to the centre of Townsville set for 2020.