Two-time Olympic cyclist Tracey Gaudry will become the first full-time female chief executive of an AFL club, having being appointed to replace Stuart Fox at Hawthorn.
Gaudry – who represented Australia at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics – is a vice-president of world cycling’s governing body.
She has also held an executive role at Athletics Australia and will serve out a notice period at AA before joining the Hawks on May 29.
Fox left Hawthorn late last year to take up the CEO’s role at the Melbourne Cricket Club.
Tim Silvers has since filled the role on an interim basis.
“It is a privilege to have built a career in sport over two decades, and to have the opportunity to bring all of my knowledge and experience in national, international, sport-specific and whole-of-sport roles to Hawthorn football club,” Gaudry said in a statement.
“Growing up in regional Victoria I was the typical kid, kicking the footy about the oval on the weekend.
“Australia is a sporting nation with Australian Rules football ingrained in our DNA and it’s the perfect time to join Hawthorn at such a progressive time for our national game.”
Hawthorn president Richard Garvey said the club underwent an “extensive and thorough” process before choosing the 47-year-old Gaudry.
“From the outset we have been clear about ensuring our new CEO was someone who could drive Hawthorn into the future,” said Garvey.
“We are excited to have a CEO who comes from outside the football world, someone with a different perspective who can drive innovation and change.”
Paul
Guest
Didn't they take everyone's?
Roger of Sydney
Guest
It looks very much like Tracey got the job because she could do the job rather than a token gesture of a female CEO so well done and good luck. Now if she kick for goal and handball out of the pack that would be even better.
markD
Guest
Wow. Did the big boys take your lunch money?
Paul
Guest
She had better be a wizard or similar as they have an Antiquated list ,No draft choices,Less presence at afl headquarters and fickle fly by night supporters who will drop off like flys around mortein See ya tassie See ya mirvac Watch what happens to waverley when they move No more memberships for the gym See ya boys No record of flags for you No more manipulation of result No. Free kick hawthorn
mdso
Guest
I think, many Hawthorn people thought Hodge was still the missing main lynch pin. Mitchell is still a very good player. And; Lewis, tough, rough and has a bit of the mongrel about him. With Roughy out of footy for a year, he was really missed. That dynamic threesome were the spiritual life blood of the team, I think. Come the end of the season, Clarkson will be even more ruthless.
John Uhr-Henry
Guest
I think all Hawks supporters are very sorry the way our club has gone on the field this season. but it just shows what a driving force our two former players had on our teams stability and progress through the middle of the ground to set up many , many forward charges and ultimate goal opportunities which appear now to be just history. Our forwards just now are completely lost and are nothing like the players they once were up till last year even. I think our two or three players such as our former captain, rover(sometimes) and ruckman are the only goers in our side now. Our backmen who were not the greatest 6 but always got the job done as the ball seemed to be up forward more than back in our last few seasons but even they are being found out under extreme pressure every game. I think we have lost a lot of our tremendous kicking and handballing skills to each other and the last few games have seen these skills just a memory of what we prided ourselves on. We seem to be handballing into trouble more and more, rather than being precise and being the leader in the packs. Perhaps new blood needs to be introduced sooner than later and retire a few tired bodies trying to keep up with the quick game now. It may take more than our new CEO to revitalize the team presently.
Penster
Roar Guru
Hawks have been turned upside down on and off field with personnel leaving and more veterans likely to retire this year, and the big expensive move to Dingley. Hope Tracey Gaudry can provide a uniting force at the club. Good to see a female up there too.