The Western Bulldogs today announces the resignation of CEO Simon Garlick. Simon’s resignation has been accepted by the Board. Simon has been Chief Executive since 2010 and over the period in the role he has demonstrated great leadership and commitment.

The search for a new CEO will begin immediately.

Club President Peter Gordon said, “Simon has played an important role for the Club in a pivotal and difficult period of its history in which we have re-built following three successive preliminary finals appearances and a cyclical downturn coupled with the unfortunately timed loss of key players when GWS and GCS were introduced to the competition, and key draft choices which ordinarily would have been available to us were given to the new Clubs. Under his leadership, the Club has maintained membership levels through this period of indifferent on-field performance and he has maintained the economic position of the Club through that difficult time.”

Some of the Club’s achievements that Simon has overseen as Chief Executive include:

1. Club revenue has grown and its debt levels have reduced by over $1.5 million in the past 3 years. These results were achieved during a time in which the Club significantly increased football expenditure which will benefit future player recruiting, development and coaching.
2. The construction of the Edgewater project has progressed to a stage where it will be open and operational later in 2015.
3. The Club has played a key role in the equalisation process that will continue to provide more opportunities for smaller clubs.
4. The Club successfully re-introduced the Footscray team into the VFL, winning the Premiership and providing another pathway to develop our exciting young list.
5. The Club renewed the Mission major sponsorship for a further 3 years, making it the longest major sponsorship in the Club’s history.
6. The Club raised $1.5 million for the next development phase of the Victoria University Whitten Oval and construction has commenced so it will be ready for the NAB Cup game against Richmond.
7. The announcement of a partnership with the City of Ballarat and the State Government’s commitment to developing Eureka Stadium for AFL.
8. The Club successfully ran for the first time the ‘Sons of the West’, a community Men’s Health initiative supporting men living and working in Melbourne’s West to lead healthier lives and raised over a million dollars to support the programs in difficult economic times.

Garlick said he had given the decision much thought and consideration, “I have decided after over 13 years with the Club as a player, Board member, manager and as the Chief Executive that the time is right for me to resign and start a new chapter in my life and career.”

“I believe it’s in the best interests of the Club, my family and myself at this time given the recent appointment of a new Coach, a stable Board in place and a new five year strategic plan for the Club ready to be launched.  I’m proud of all I have accomplished here at Western Bulldogs during my tenure as the Chief Executive.  During this period I have truly appreciated the support of staff, colleagues but most of all my incredible wife and family.  It has been a privilege to serve the Club in this capacity after representing it as a player.”

“I would like to acknowledge all of the Club staff for their dedication and hard work – they mean a great deal to me and I wish them all the best. I also want to thank the loyal Bulldog members for whom the Club exists.  I wish Rob Murphy and all Players, Luke Beveridge and his Coaches and the entire Club all the very best. The football talent is clearly present and foundations are there for future success.”

A sub-committee of the Board led by the Chair of the Club’s Audit & Risk Committee, Gary Kent, will lead the search for a successor.  Egon Zehnder partner Fiona McGeochie, who assisted in the recruitment process for new coach Luke Beveridge will be a member of the committee.  (Egon Zender were also retained by the AFL in the recruitment of Gillon McLachlan as AFL CEO and for the selectin of new AFL Commissioners Simone Wilkie and Jason Ball).

Pending the appointment of a new CEO, the role and duties of CEO will be shared between Club President Peter Gordon and Chief Operating Officer Michael Quinn.