James Hird sought out in Melbourne’s quest for new CEO
Despite only just taking up a position at Port Melbourne, James Hird has found himself involved in the process for the choosing of the next CEO at the Demons.
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Melbourne has reached out to Essendon legend James Hird as part of its search for a new chief executive.
The firm leading the search for Gary Pert’s replacement told the club it contacted Hird about any recommendations he may have for the position.
The Demons are keen to begin assessing a shortlist of candidates next month.
NBL chief executive David Stevenson, who had stints at the AFL and Western Bulldogs, is considered a candidate.
But the contact with Hird is intriguing as the Essendon champion is highly-rated for his business acumen and football knowledge.
Hird, 51, was one of Essendon’s greatest players and coached the club for four seasons before he departed on the back of the Bombers’ crippling supplement saga in 2015.
But the two-time premiership player, superstar captain and five-time best-and-fairest winner has moved past the crisis and has continued to enhance his reputation in the business world.
The former senior coach is the founder and managing director of Euree Asset Management and the co-founder and non-executive director of Tenka Group, a worldwide sports consultancy.
Hird has also returned to the coach’s box as coaching director of Port Melbourne in the VFL alongside former Western Bulldogs’ senior coach and three-time Cats’ assistant premiership coach Brendan McCartney.
Hird remains friends with Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin from their time together at Essendon between 2011 and 2014.
The Demons are keen to land a first-class replacement for Pert as the club attempts to bounce back into the eight and find a new home base at Caulfield Racecourse.
At the end of last season Hird was offered the senior coaching position at VFL club Port Melbourne, where his son Tom plays.
He ultimately rejected the job, citing his work commitments, but helped the Borough secure his former Essendon assistant Brendan McCartney.
Hird accepted the role of director of football and was instrumental in Port landing former Essendon captain Dyson Heppell as a marquee recruit for 2025.
It’s Hird’s first role in football since he served as a GWS assistant coach in 2022.
“He can see the game, he can teach the game, footballers relate to him. He has still got an amazing aura about him,” McCartney said.
“He is one of the greatest ever to play the game and he’s got a wealth of footy knowledge.
“He will be the old chairman of selectors, he will be hands-on. Every coach needs help.
“Watching it first hand, he involves everyone, he communicates with everyone and that person in front of him is the most important person in the world.
“He is excited, he wants to get back in and build a footy club and build an environment for success.
“None of us would ever know what impact (the last decade) had had on him but it’s just so good to see him back visually involved in football and a bit of him wants to give back and also support his son who is there and support the club.”
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Originally published as James Hird sought out in Melbourne’s quest for new CEO
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