North Melbourne will be the only AFL club to have both a female chief executive and president after appointing Melbourne Cricket Club administrator Jennifer Watt as CEO.
Watt, who will work with president Sonja Hood, is the league's second female club chief executive after Tracey Gaudry's short-lived tenure at Hawthorn in 2017.
The Kangaroos have been on the hunt for a new CEO since Ben Amarfio resigned in September and stepped down at the end of October, after three turbulent seasons.
Geelong football manager Simon Lloyd had also been in the mix but the Kangaroos opted for Watt, who has 20 years' experience in football and sports management and administration.
Watt spent 14 years at AFL rivals Melbourne, including eight years as their head of marketing and communications, and in 2016 received the AFL's Graeme Samuel Scholarship, awarded to outstanding football industry administrators.
Watt joined the MCC as general manager of commercial operations and partnerships in October 2017.
That role included the renegotiation of Cricket Australia's partnership and the AFL club agreements with the MCG.
In a letter to Kangaroos members announcing the news, Hood said Watt's appointment "caps off a significant period of change" at North Melbourne, which included Alastair Clarkson's appointment as head coach.
Hood noted it had been critical "to choose the right CEO - a club CEO, not a football CEO or a commercial CEO", with the club confident Watt could bring a "one club" mentality to Arden St.
"There is a natural alignment of values between both parties," Hood said in a statement.
"Jen's collaborative leadership style and focus on developing authentic relationships with her people really stood out to us as a club.
"Her extensive experience at both an AFL club and venue has provided Jen with a deep understanding and knowledge of the complexities of the AFL industry."
Watt will begin at the Kangaroos on January 23.
"It's an honour to be able to lead the club into the future," Watt said in a statement.
"The club is filled with promise, there is so much to be excited about."
