Former Collingwood football boss Graham Wright will join Carlton as the club's new deputy chief executive.
The club has confirmed Wright's appointment as part of a succession plan, which will see him take over from the current chief executive Brian Cook.
Cook is contracted until the end of 2025, with the club expected to complete the transition in the next 12 months.
President Luke Sayers said Wright emerged as the clear candidate after a lengthy process.ย
โTo have Graham Wright and Brian Cook working alongside one another for this next period of time โ as a Carlton person you could not ask for two more highly regarded individuals to guide the transition of our Club's senior leadership,โ said Sayers.
โWe have appointed the best football person in the country to lead our football club,โ
Wright previously worked as the football boss for Carlton's arch-rivals Collingwood. From 2021 to 2024, he built a list that would ultimately deliver the Magpies' first premiership in 13 years.
โBrian's experience in developing sustained success cannot be understated,โ said Sayers.
โIn recent years we have made a conscious decision to not only attract strong leaders to Carlton, but leaders who know what it takes to earn success - Few share those credentials to the calibre of Graham.โ
After Collingwood's premiership success in 2023, Wright took an overseas sabbatical from the club in 2024.
Wright's decision to depart Collingwood comes as President Jeff Browne confirmed he would be stepping down from his position at the club.
Via a letter to members and supporters, Browne said he would not be seeking re-election at the forthcoming AGM in December this year.
โIt is with mixed feelings that I announce I will complete my three-year term as President of the Collingwood Football Club and will not seek re-election at the upcoming AGM to be held on December 16 this year,โ he said.
โI am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together during my time as President and the memories we have created over the past three years will live on forever.โย
Browne departs Collingwood after the club missed finals for the 2024 season, having tasted premiership glory in 2023.
Although they missed the September series, Browne said he is departing the Magpies with the club in a strong place.
โAs I step away, I do so knowing that the Club is in a very healthy position โ a much better position to that I found at the beginning of my journey, and I look forward to being in the stands at the MCG and Victoria Park and barracking with you, side by side, for our continued success.โ
Amidst Browne and Wright's departures, it has also been announced that Collingwood board member and club director Christine Holgate will depart the club ahead of the AGM in December.ย
โI have been a supporter of the Collingwood Football Club since moving to Australia and it has been an absolute privilege and honour to serve on the Club Board,โ she said.
ย โI hope my passion for Collingwood has served it well. I am pleased that our Club is in a strong position and I look forward to continuing to support and contribute in my role as Chair of the Collingwood Community Foundation.โ
