Boulton has led Port Adelaide since 1992 and is one of the three longest serving AFL club presidents.
Boulton, who was a driving force behind Port Adelaide’s successful bid to get into the AFL in 1994, will be replaced by Deputy-President Brett Duncanson.
The announcement comes just three days after the Power confirmed Mark Haysman as the new CEO, but Boulton said he was leaving behind a stable club.
“We have for two years had in place a leadership succession plan to hand the baton on to Brett and, at the same time, ensure that our Board of Directors is always fresh, relevant and equipped to lead,” Boulton said on Friday.
“Brett’s election by his fellow directors was unanimous and he has behind him a highly capable and loyal Board and a fantastic management and staff.”
Boulton, who will also retire from the board, became a vice-president of the Port Adelaide Football Club in 1982 and, in 1986, was appointed to a special business sub-committee that helped save the Magpies from going into liquidation.
The Port Adelaide stalwart conceded he could’ve retained the presidency for a few more years, but knew it was time for a change.
“I think the time was right a year ago as part of our succession planning. I discussed with the board that with Tony Hobby, who will also retire, and I as the two last inaugural members, that at the end of this year, no matter what happened, it was right to change,” Boulton said.
“I’ve been saying to my wife Cheryl for a long while that you have so much fun in this job that you must let someone else have the fun. I mean that seriously.
“As the guys in footy know, you have outstanding highs and 100-metres below the ground lows and that’s what makes it so good. It’s just so diverse and so exciting.”
“I’m not bored, a lot of presidents are 75-80, and I think I could’ve done it longer, but I think, sometimes you’ve got to let others enjoy it and take that next step.”
Boulton joins a long list of senior staff members to leave Alberton over the past 12 months including CEO John James, assistant coach Dean Bailey, fitness coach Darren Burgess and communications manager Hitaf Rasheed.
Duncanson, who is the managing director of SA company Macweld Industries, said the club had been left with a ‘very solid’ plan for the future.
“I’m as passionate about this organisation as I am about anything, that includes my family and my business, and it was a very simple decision for me [to take the job],” he said.
“It’s something that comes with an enormous amount of honour and responsibility and I’ll be president of this club for as long as I can contribute.
“If I contribute as well as Greg has over that period, I won’t put a timeline on it.”
