AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has today announced Ray Horsburgh as the new AFL Victoria Chairman.
 
Horsburgh, the former chairman of the Essendon Football Club and an extremely experienced businessman, assumes the role previously held by Melbourne Football Club CEO Peter Jackson.
 
Jackson stepped down from the role at the end of 2014 due his commitment to the Demons, bringing to an end his five-year chairmanship.  
 
Among many achievements during this time, Mr. Jackson played a key role in the 2011 Review of Country Football, with a number of the recommendations made in the review having now been implemented as part of a restructure of community football administration across Victoria.
 
AFL Victoria CEO Steven Reaper said Mr Horsburgh’s experience as a senior football administrator and his knowledge of the industry would be invaluable to AFL Victoria.
 
“AFL Victoria is pleased to have a person of Ray’s stature, both in the football community and the business world, fulfilling the role of Chairman,” Reaper said.
 
“I would also like to thank Peter Jackson for his support of the organisation over the past five years and in particular his input into the Review of Country Football, which continues to provide enormous benefits at grassroots level in Victoria.”
 
Mr Horsburgh was Chairman of Essendon from 2006 - 2009 and was previously managing director of Smorgon Steel Group Limited for 15 years, following a 31-year career with the Australian Consolidated Industries Group.
 
He is also the current Chairman of Toll Group.