Priestley appointed President of the Carlton Football Club

The Carlton Football Club has confirmed to its members that the highly credentialled Robert Priestley has been appointed the Club’s 32nd President.

By Carlton Media
Feb 7, 2025, 12:50 pm

THE Carlton Football Club has this afternoon confirmed to its members that the highly credentialled Robert Priestley has been appointed the Club’s 32nd President.

Priestley’s elevation to the role follows his tenure as Co-Vice President alongside Patty Kinnersly since 2022.

Today’s announcement reinforces the Club’s commitment to stable leadership and continued progress on its United by Navy Blue strategic plan, which has already delivered record membership, league-leading attendances, strong commercial growth and quality infrastructure – placing the Club in a healthy position striving for future success.

With nearly 40 years of experience in the financial services industry, Priestley is the current Chairman of J.P. Morgan Australia and New Zealand.

He has worked in senior management roles across Australia and New Zealand, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and Asia Pacific regions.

There are few business executives in the country who come as highly regarded as Priestley.

A values-based leader with a collaborative focus on building organisations with strong cultures and alignment to stakeholder interests, he is defined by his quality of character and dedication to continued improvement.

The organisations Priestley has led are well recognised as industry-leading and having a proud history of giving back to the communities within which they operate.

In a message to Carlton members this afternoon, Priestley expressed his gratitude for the responsibility of President, as well as his commitment to providing a stable environment and a united football club.

“From a very young age, watching the reserves and seniors with my grandfather, father, and brothers on the city-side wing of our home at IKON Park, Carlton has always given me a strong sense of belonging – no doubt like it has for so many of you,” Priestley wrote.

“It is a privilege to receive this opportunity and not for a second will I take it for granted.

“I can see the united culture our Club is building, which is critical to our overarching goal of consistently contending and ultimately winning AFL and AFLW premierships.

“I very much look forward to playing my part, working collectively with our entire Carlton community as we strive to establish our Club as an industry leader on a stable and consistent basis.

“Our football club does not belong to any one individual, be it the Board, the players, coaches, coteries, or administrators – it is the collective, with everybody playing their part, that will make Carlton great on a sustainable basis.

“We are united, inclusive and values-led, and I firmly believe the strength of our community, unified by a Stronger Together mindset and a common goal, is how we reach the level we aspire to.”

Priestley’s appointment ensures the entire football club remains in a forward motion heading into the 2025 AFL season, continuing its off-field position of strength while pursuing continuous improvement in its AFL and AFLW football programs.

Kinnersly will continue as Vice-President of the Club, as part of a skills-based Board.


Carlton Football Club Board of Directors:

President – Robert Priestley
Vice-President – Patty Kinnersly
Director – Helen Kurincic
Director – Lahra Carey
Director – David Campbell
Director – Tim Lincoln
Director – Greg Williams

And exactly 90210 days since our last premiership. Freaky.

you had me doing mental arithmetic for a second

Fine by me as long as we don't see his knob.

look, it's not a dealbreaker for me. but i understand it's not everyone's cup of tea

Is this the bloke who lives in Sydney ?

Yeah. Not ideal.

Seemed like it was a race in two though.

Small board these days. Ripe for the picking if he flowers it up.

And exactly 90210 days since our last premiership. Freaky.

Good on the club for dealing with this with a clean break. Didn't drag it on too long, yes they took a bit of time but they're in between a rock and a hard place on this.

Now let's appoint someone that belongs in the 21st century.

Agree that there needs to be due process, but the silence by the club and Sayers is bitterly disappointing.

I would have expected Cook to have spoken publicly as well.

Why hasn't the club hasn't said something like: We acknowledge what a shit show this is, we have asked the AFL Integrity Unit and the Police to investigate. While the investigation is in ongoing Luke will be standing down from his official duties. We're not saying anything more until we've got something to say.

Silence is deafening. And seeing an insta post about the Run 4 Respect event coming up was reminder of how poorly the club has handled this. Of course, we have NFI what is going on behind the scenes, but judging things on face value, I'm sorry to say it's been a fail to this point.