Melbourne Demons Confirm Paul Guerra as CEO Amid Wider Boardroom Transition

The Melbourne Demons have formally appointed Paul Guerra as Chief Executive Officer, with the experienced business leader set to step into the role full time from next week.

His arrival comes as the club navigates a period of leadership and governance change, with President Brad Green also confirming his plans to step down later this year.

An Appointment to foster Stakeholders’ Engagement 

Guerra, who has already been involved in the club’s head coaching search, previously led the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and brings a background in corporate leadership and stakeholder engagement.

Melbourne Demons President, Brad Green said the new CEO would be visible and accessible to members, highlighting his record of empowering executive teams and fostering connection with stakeholders.

The appointment follows a recruitment process designed to identify a candidate capable of balancing the commercial, football, and community-facing demands of an AFL club.

For the Demons,Paul Guerra’s arrival signals a renewed focus on leadership stability following a challenging period marked by coaching changes and ongoing scrutiny around on-field performance.

At the governance level, Green confirmed he will finish his tenure as president at the conclusion of the AFLW season, with current director Steve Smith to assume the chair. Green will remain on the board as a director.

An important Transition

The transition comes at a time when AFL clubs are increasingly focused on aligning board and executive leadership ahead of the AFL’s next broadcast cycle and the ongoing expansion of the AFLW competition.

The Demons also acknowledged the contribution of long-standing director and 50-year member David Rennick, who has resigned after reaching his term limit. His departure will create a board vacancy to be filled at the next Annual General Meeting.

For Melbourne, these leadership changes occur against a backdrop of heightened competition for commercial partnerships and member engagement in a crowded Victorian sports market.

The combination of a new chief executive and board transition provides both an opportunity to refresh strategic priorities and a challenge to maintain stability at a time when the club is seeking to strengthen its financial and football operations.

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