Carlton president Luke Sayers is leaving the club and taking an extended break from all other work after a lewd photo was posted on one of his social media accounts, even after the AFL accepted his explanation that he did not publish the image himself.

Mr Sayers on Wednesday ended two weeks of speculation by announcing he would step back from the chairmanship of his consulting outfit, Sayers Group, which he refused to do even when the Senate was investigating any role he may have had in the PwC tax leaks scandal as a former CEO of the big four firm.