GARY Pert will depart his role as Melbourne CEO by the end of the year, while Steven Smith has committed to joining the club's board.
Pert announced his decision to leave the club on Thursday. It comes after a tumultuous period for the club, which sparked two separate reviews of the on and off-field operations. The results of the reviews are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.
Pert's exit follows that of president Kate Roffey, who stepped down in September.
While he steps down as CEO, Pert will stay on at the Demons in a consulting role, focusing on establishing the club's new training and administration base at Caulfield Racecourse.
Having won the 2021 premiership, the Dees lost consecutive finals in both 2022 and 2023 and had a horror year in 2024, finishing 14th.
They endured a torrid off-season, with star players Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver both expressing a desire to leave the club before re-committing for 2025.
Pert joined the Demons after the 2018 season, following Peter Jackson's decision to step away from the club.
His first season in charge saw the club plummet down the ladder and finish 17th, before narrowly missing finals during the COVID period and then claiming the drought-breaking 2021 flag.
Pert spent 10 years as Collingwood CEO, overseeing the club's 2010 premiership and the rocky handover from long-time coach Mick Malthouse to his understudy Nathan Buckley at the end of 2011.
He left the Magpies midway through 2017 following a wide-ranging review into the club's operations.
In a letter to members on Thursday, club president Brad Green said Pert would remain in the role until the end of the year.
"After careful consideration of what is best for the club, his family, and his own future, Gary concluded that now is the right time to initiate the search for his successor," Green said.
"I want to make it absolutely clear that this decision, including its timing, is Gary's own.
"On behalf of the entire club and Board, I sincerely thank Gary for the invaluable contributions he has made to the red and blue since joining us at the end of the 2018 season. His leadership has been pivotal in delivering a series of significant achievements both on and off the field, instilling a deep sense of pride in all Dees supporters.
"A key element of his legacy will be the football review he conducted in 2020, which was instrumental in setting the stage for our 2021 premiership success.
"To ensure continuity on one of our most important projects, the Board has asked Gary to stay on in a consulting role, focusing on establishing our state-of-the-art training and administration base at Caulfield Racecourse Reserve. I am pleased to say Gary has accepted this role.
"Gary will remain CEO until the end of the year, allowing us ample time to celebrate his remarkable contributions before he narrows his focus to the future of our club at Caulfield."
The Demons' chief operating officer, David Chippindall, will fill the CEO role in an interim capacity from January 2025.
Meanwhile, former MCC boss Steven Smith will nominate for a position on the Demons' Board.
Smith played over 200 games for the Demons, and won the club's best and fairest in 1981. He also served as MCC President from 2015 to 2019, where he played a key role in securing the AFL Grand Final at the MCG until 2057 and introducing new membership categories.
"Should members elect him, I will encourage Steven to seek board endorsement to succeed me as president of the Melbourne Football Club at the end of the 2025 AFL season," Green said.
"His vision and commitment to our club are invaluable assets as we look toward a united and successful future."
