HAWTHORN CEO Stuart Fox is leaving after seven years at the Hawks to take over as chief of the Melbourne Cricket Club.

In the MCC role, which became vacant when Stephen Gough announced his retirement in June after more than 17 years in the position, Fox will manage the iconic sporting stadium, the MCC’s 120,000 members, the National Sports Museum, Yarra Park and several other sporting facilities in Melbourne.

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Stuart Fox a great get as MCC boss. In the space of 10 months the Hawks have lost a star footy boss, president, CEO & 2 4-time prem champs — Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) December 23, 2016

Fox joined Hawthorn as CEO in 2009 after almost a decade at Geelong and was in charge for the Hawks’ premiership hat-trick in 2013-15 as well as seven consecutive years of club membership records. He will depart the Hawks at the end of February.

Stuart Fox was CEO for three Hawthorn premierships. Source: News Corp Australia

“I will depart Hawthorn with a tinge of sadness, but also with memories and friendships that will last a lifetime,” Fox said. “I am indebted to the president, board members and staff at Hawthorn for their support over the past seven years and I wish them well for the 2017 AFL season and beyond.”

Fox’s departure follows the loss of football operations manager Chris Fagan — now coach of Brisbane — plus president Andrew Newbold who quit in February and premiership champions Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis, who left during the trade period.

Hawthorn CEO Stuart Fox (centre) with AFL boss Gillon McLachlan and Hawks captain Luke Hodge. Source: Getty Images

Hawthorn president Richard Garvey said the club was proud of Fox’s appointment.

“The appointment of Stuart to the MCC CEO role is a great accolade for him and a great accolade for the Hawthorn Football Club and its people,” Garvey said.

“The club is very grateful for Stuart’s service over the past seven years and everything he has achieved.

“We are confident he will do a great job at the MCC and would like to thank him, his wife Sybilla and children Millie, Sinclair, Chloe and Claudia for their time, commitment and service.

“We look forward to working closely with Stuart in his new role at the MCC and are confident of finding a quality replacement to take up the helm at Hawthorn.”

The Hawks board will meet in early January to start the process of finding a new CEO.