ESSENDON'S general manager of football Rob Kerr will depart the club next month after helping steer the Bombers through the most turbulent time in their history. 

Kerr has "mixed emotions" about leaving the Dons, who he joined in April 2014, eight months after the club copped severe punishment for failures of governance that led to the supplements scandal. 

With the Bombers back on their feet, Kerr will walk away to pursue family business interests and complete a Harvard business course. 

"I joined the club when it was facing unprecedented challenges and having guided the department through this period I feel I have achieved what I set out to do and that it’s a good time to hand over the reins and look for the next challenge," Kerr said. 

"The club is about to enter an exciting phase in its history and I wish the players and coaches every success in the future.

"Essendon is well set up for success and I am proud of the contribution I have made."

Kerr was lured from his list management position at the Brisbane Lions to take on a role alongside Neil Craig in a radically restructured Essendon football department.

He was previously an assistant coach at the Dons from 1998-99 before serving the AFL Players' Association as player development director and then CEO for five years.

Bombers chief Xavier Campbell praised Kerr's efforts and said the club will now commence a recruitment process to find his replacement.  

"The contribution Rob has made to the rebuild of our football club has been significant and I thank him for his unwavering dedication and passion," Campbell said

"In agreeing to take on the role Rob indicated that it was only ever going to be a medium-term proposition. 

"In that time he has made a significant impact, and Rob’s discipline, rigour and work ethic in driving the establishment of strong working structures, processes and compliance within the football program cannot be underestimated.

"Rob’s leadership has helped guide the football department through contingency planning during the challenging ASADA/WADA period, the acquisition of short-term contracted players, the retention and reintegration of the suspended players, the club’s finals appearances in 2014 and 2017 and, most recently, executing a successful trade period. 

"I speak on behalf of everyone at Essendon in wishing Rob, Belinda and their family nothing but the best for the future and their next chapter."