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Dan Taylor Appointed Melbourne Football Club CEO Following Dismissal of Paul Guerra

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Melbourne Football Club Appoints Dan Taylor as New CEO

Dan Taylor, a lifelong Melbourne member and current Stan Australia executive, will take over the CEO role in the coming months.

The Melbourne Football Club has appointed board member Dan Taylor as its new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Paul Guerra, who was dismissed from the role after just seven months. Brian Cook will serve as interim CEO until Taylor assumes the position.

Appointment of Dan Taylor

Dan Taylor, a non-executive director who joined the club's board in December 2025, will become the next CEO. He currently serves as Executive Director at Stan Australia, overseeing Stan Entertainment and Stan Sport. His previous career includes roles at Macquarie Capital and REA Group. Taylor is described as a lifelong Melbourne Football Club member.

The appointment is expected to be announced on Wednesday. Taylor will not commence the role for several months. Brian Cook, a long-time AFL administrator who has been serving as interim CEO, will remain in place until Taylor starts.

Club President Steven Smith stated that the Board is pleased to appoint Taylor, citing his strategic and commercial skills. Taylor described the appointment as an honor and expressed commitment to the club's success.

Dismissal of Paul Guerra

"Sometimes you get one wrong... it's time to move on." – Club President Steven Smith

Paul Guerra was dismissed as CEO on April 29, 2026, after seven months in the role. Guerra was informed of the decision during a scheduled meeting with club president Steven Smith at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

According to Smith, the board made a unanimous decision to remove Guerra effective immediately, citing a loss of confidence in his ability to lead the club and a breakdown of relationships with the board.

Context of Guerra's Tenure

  • Guerra was appointed in April 2025 but commenced the role in September 2025.
  • In October 2025, the club hired former CEO Brian Cook as a part-time mentor for Guerra.
  • The board reportedly had early concerns about his media engagement and lack of AFL industry experience.
  • Guerra was involved in trade negotiations during the 2025 trade period, which surprised rival clubs.
  • An incident involving a phone hook-up with players' partners in early 2026, which ventured into private issues, led to a public apology.
  • No misconduct or malfeasance was cited as the reason for dismissal.

Potential Legal Action

Guerra is reportedly considering legal action regarding his dismissal.

Leadership Changes at Melbourne

Guerra's departure marks the fifth leadership change at Melbourne in the past 18 months, following departures of Gary Pert, Simon Goodwin, Brad Green, and Kate Roffey.

Club Performance

At the time of the dismissal, Melbourne was fourth on the AFL ladder with a 5-2 record under first-year coach Steven King.

Player Response

"I had no idea at all." – Melbourne captain Max Gawn

Melbourne captain Max Gawn stated that he had "no idea at all" about the club's decision to dismiss Guerra. Gawn noted that players and staff were unaware of the decision.