MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 06: Hawks legends Gary Ayres (C), Darrin Pritchard (L) and Andrew Gowers (R) pose for a photograph with the 1991 AFL Premiership Cup in front of the 'Batmobile' from the 1991 AFL Grand Final during a Hawthorn Hawks AFL training session at Waverley Park on May 06, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Premiership-winning Hawk Andy Gowers has ascended to high office at Waverley Park after officially being elected as president of the Hawthorn Football Club at Tuesday night's AGM.

Gowers will be joined on the brown and gold board by former Victorian deputy premier James Merlino, as well as returning board members Anne-Marie Pellizzer and Katie Hudson who were both sworn in during the meeting at Hawthorn Town Hall.

As a member of Hawthorn's 1991 unit that edged West Coast during the only grand final to be played at the Mulgrave venue, the 53-year-old's successful campaign has brought about a homecoming in more ways than one.

Tuesday's tally count also brought an end to Jeff Kennett's 13-year reign which spanned two tenures served between 2005 and 2022.

Kennett's preferred predecessor, Peter Nanikivell, was also toppled on a night that closed the curtains on a spiteful campaign trail.

Although ousted, Kennett had been endorsed by club legends Don Scott and Peter Hudson throughout his press for retention. The former premier had also received the support of wealthy club benefactor, Geoff Harris.

Jeff Kennett (L), Peter Nankivell (Photos - Getty, Hawthorn FC)

On Wednesday Hawthorn confirmed football director and former captain Richie Vandenberg has left the club's board in the wake of Gowers' appointment.

"Hawthorn Football Club wishes to advise it has received the resignation of Board Director Richie Vandenberg," a club statement reads.

"Vandenberg is a former captain of the club who played 145 games. He was appointed to the Board in 2016 and has most recently served as the club's director of football.

"A Nominations Committee will be used to seek candidates for the role with more information to be provided in the coming weeks."

It is believed that Vandenberg was primed to take on the vice presidency under Nankivell should he have been elected.

As the preferred candidate of the Hawks For Change campaign group, Gowers held popularity with the club's grassroots membership base, with a multitude of the winger's ex-teammates, including Gary Ayres, Chris Langford and Peter Schwab, offering their public backing.

Gowers' campaigning efforts intensified upon the announcement in June that Nankivell would simply succeed Kennett for the Hawks' top job - a move which enraged a sizable portion of Hawthorn's membership base.

This ill feeling was also fueled by Cyril Rioli's fallout with Kennett following comments made by the latter to the indigenous star's wife, Shannyn Ah Sam.

Friction also led to factions upon the announcement of a review of Hawthorn's cultural safety and welfare programs after harrowing allegations were levelled at former employees Alastair Clarkson, Chris Fagan and Jason Burt by First Nations players and their families previously attached to the club.

Gowers' campaign came stumped with three pillars, including a desire to foster unity between all sects of a clearly fractured club.

"I know from experience that footy clubs, like all healthy organisations, perform best when everyone is working together inside and outside of the four walls," Gowers wrote in an open letter addressed to voting members.

"We will ensure a playing and working environment where people can thrive and work together constructively towards our shared vision."

The former football director also stressed that under his leadership, the Hawthorn Football Club would "engage with players from across the generations, including our First Nations representatives, to learn the lessons from the past and truly be the Family Club; a title we must continue to earn and own."

Ironically, Gowers has become a succession and exit strategy expert since trading the playing field for the corporate sphere, with the Xavier College graduate deviding his time between the Cranage Financial Group and his own advisory group.

The recent retirement of club captain Ben McEvoy now means that Hawthorn will enter the 2023 season with a new president and a new skipper to bookend second-year head coach Sam Mitchell.

Throughout seven sevens on Hawthorn's senior list, Gowers made 86 appearances in brown and gold bars before capping his career after a further 51 games as both a Brisbane Bear and Lion.