The AFL's head of umpiring position has been filled by former AFL head of community and international development Grant Williams.
Williams takes the position from former umpire boss Peter Schwab, who resigned in November last year.
Williams' experience includes roles as the general manager of AFL Victoria and Carlton's general manager of football operations.
The head of umpiring is responsible for the senior AFL umpiring panel, strategy and expansion of umpiring at all levels, pathway development, high-performance training and recruitment.
"Grant has extensive football experience, is a first-class achiever and is highly regarded across the football industry," AFL head of football operations Steve Hocking said.
"As I have said in the past, the umpiring department is the 19th team of our competition, we will resource and invest in it accordingly.
"I am extremely pleased that Grant will lead this team."
In other significant off-field news, Trisha Squires has become the first female chief executive of an AFL state body after accepting the role as AFL Tasmania's CEO.
Squires takes over from former CEO Rob Auld, who's been appointed as the AFL's head of game development in another key appointment.
Squires has previously worked as AFL Tasmania's partnerships and community engagement manager and as CEO of the Jim Stynes-founded REACH Foundation.
"Trisha is extremely respected and well known in our industry," AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said.
"She has made a tremendous contribution to football, and has worked closely with Rob over her time in Tasmania.
"I congratulate her on the appointment and becoming the first female AFL state CEO."
