Essendon CEO departs

Essendon CEO Craig Vozzo has decided to stand down from his role after three years with the Bombers.

Vozzo will return to South Australia to be closer to family, with his decision coming at the conclusion of his three-year contract with the club.

"It's been a great honour and privilege to serve the Club as CEO, an opportunity that I'm incredibly grateful for,” Vozzo said.

"I've been living away from my home and my wider family and friends back in South Australia for 15-plus years now.

"My initial three-year contract was coming to an end, which gave me the opportunity to reflect on my future.

"Following the conclusion of our AFLW season and men's draft, I returned to South Australia for a few weeks to be around family and my closest friends, to have some quiet time to deeply reflect.

"In that time, it really reinforced to me that it is the right time in my life to take a step back from the CEO role and further prioritise my family ahead of my career.

"This has been one of the most difficult decisions I've ever had to make, because I love this football club and everything it stands for to so many.

"I have great confidence in the current direction of our Club and our leaders, Welshy, the Board, our Executive Team, Brad Scott and Natalie Wood. The foundations are strong, and I'm excited about what the future holds for Essendon.

"But it is time for me to start the next chapter of my life back home in South Australia.

"I want to thank our incredibly loyal members, our Board and staff, our players, and everyone in the Essendon family for their support over the past three years. This club has given me so much, and I'll always be a Bomber."

He joined Essendon in November of 2022 after serving as the club's senior corporate counsel, replacing Andrew Thorburn in controversial circumstances.

Thorburn was appointed as Xavier Campbell's successor before lasting one day in the role, stepping aside for reasons relating to his religion.  

Chief operating officer Nick Ryan will step into an acting CEO role in the wake of Vozzo's departure. 

The decision from the former West Coast football boss adds to the wave of changes that have come at Tullamarine over the past 12 months, with the appointment of Andrew Welsh as president among the sweeping off-field alterations. 

Welsh was elected to the Essendon board this week alongside Kate O'Sullivan, with premiership Bomber Dean Solomon having left the board in favour of an assistant coaching role under Brad Scott in October. 

The Bombers have also undergone changes to their high-performance program since the cessation of the 2025 season, while Zach Merrett has rescinded his role as captain of the club.