Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell has turned down the chance to join the AFL executive and has recommitted to staying at the Bombers, but Lindsay Tanner has said next year will be his last as president.

Campbell was approached to join the AFL in a new role as chief executive of Marvel Stadium, a move that was regarded as elevating his chances of rivalling Tigers' CEO Brendon Gale as favourite to succeed Gillon McLachlan as AFL CEO.

Xavier Campbell is staying at Essendon. Credit:Darrian Traynor

Tanner told the club annual general meeting on Thursday night that he would stand down as president in 2020 and hand over to a new president in the latter stages of next year.

He said there was no preferred candidate to replace him as yet but the successor would come from the existing board.