Melbourne Demons part ways with chief executive Paul Guerra
Updated ,first published
Melbourne have parted ways with chief executive Paul Guerra only seven months after he started in the job.
The move was reported by multiple media outlets on Tuesday and was independently verified by this masthead before the Demons confirmed Guerra’s departure in a statement on Tuesday evening.
Brian Cook, a friend and former teammate of Dees president Steven Smith – also a former CEO of West Coast, Geelong and Carlton – will become interim CEO after initially being recruited to mentor Guerra on a part-time basis.
The Demons said they “expected to be in a position to make an announcement on a permanent CEO shortly”.
“On behalf of Melbourne Football Club, I thank Paul for his contribution to the club and wish him all the best for the future,” Smith said.
“Brian is a highly respected operator and with over 35 years of experience in AFL clubs he will provide much needed leadership and guidance through this period.
“We are pleased that Brian has agreed to step into the role in an interim capacity until a permanent CEO can commence,” said Smith.
Guerra was contacted for comment.
He started the role officially in September last year after he was appointed in April 2025.
“I’m really clear around values. I think the football club has a wonderful set of values. I can bind to those and I’m sure everyone in the organisation does,” Guerra told the club website in his first interview as chief executive.
“I’m also really clear on strategy. If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there. Let’s be really clear around where we’re going. The values then lead to a culture.”
At the time of his appointment he was CEO of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Demons have enjoyed a bright start to 2026 on the field under King. Despite the off-season departure of key playmakers Christian Petracca (to Gold Coast) and Clayton Oliver (GWS), they’ve won five of their seven games to sit fourth on the ladder.
However, the club attracted some unwanted headlines earlier this month when details of a pre-season meeting between senior club figures and players’ partners were made public.
The club apologised for the meeting, which was attended by Guerra, King and football department boss Alan Richardson, after it was alleged that the club breached confidentiality obligations in the online forum by revealing inappropriate information about the relationship between Demons player Steven May and his partner Sachi Dade. May, a 2021 premiership defender for the club, retired on the eve of the season after a period of personal leave.
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