CARLTON has landed a coup, with Graham Wright joining the Blues as their next chief executive officer. 

Wright, who steered Hawthorn and then Collingwood's football department to premierships, has been lured to the Blues to be Brian Cook's successor as CEO.

The significant move was announced on Wednesday and will see a handover take place between Cook and Wright. 

Wright stepped away from Collingwood after last year's premiership for an extended break overseas and departed the Pies officially in August.

He has been in demand since then, with Adelaide chasing him as a senior football figure in its department, the new Tasmanian side making enquiries on his availability and the AFL also in contact with Wright about a possible role in the football operations department.

However, after being a list manager with the Hawks, and then football boss at Hawthorn and Collingwood, Wright has had aspirations to be a CEO and will take the reins of the Blues as they chase their first flag since 1995. 

"I acted in the [CEO] role for three or four months at Collingwood, and that probably whet my appetite for it," Wright said.

"I felt and believed that I had more to give than just football.

"But I know how big football is and such an important part of any football club. So when that opportunity was there, and particularly to work with Brian, I was really excited."

The club has been looking at possibilities for their next CEO and Cook has been involved in the process of appointing Wright, along with president Luke Sayers and the Carlton board.

"We have appointed the best football person in the country to lead our football club," Sayers said. 

"Graham's proven ability to take a football club from good to great is unmatched and will be an invaluable asset as this club looks to evolve to the level required to contend for premierships in the coming years."