The Western Bulldogs are now on the lookout for a new chief executive with Simon Garlick announcing his resignation from the position on Monday.
Garlick, who took on the role in 2010, said it was the right time for him to step away from the club after 13 years involvement as player, board member, manager and chief executive.
“I believe it’s in the best interests [to step away] 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,” Garlick said in a statement.
“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.”
A search for a new chief executive will start immediately with a sub-committee led by the club’s audit and risk committee chair Gary Kent to lead the committee.
Bulldogs president Peter Gordon said Garlick had played an important role for the club in a pivotal and difficult period for the club.
“We have rebuilt 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,” Gordon said.
“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.”
Gordon and chief operating office Michael Quinn will share the chief executive duties until someone is appointed.
