Rob Priestley has been appointed Carlton’s new president, succeeding former PwC boss Luke Sayers.

Priestley is presently one of the club’s vice presidents and is the current chairman of financial services firm J.P. Morgan Australia and New Zealand.

He had long been seen as a successor to Sayers. His co-vice president Patty Kinnersly chose not to contest the position.

The Blues will ratify the composition of their board at their upcoming annual general meeting this month.

Priestley and Kinnersly have been sharing the chair’s duties in an acting capacity since Sayers – a former chief executive of PwC Australia – quit the role last month. His resignation came after he’d been embroiled in a controversy early in the new year over a lewd image that was posted from one of his social media accounts.

Although an AFL inquiry found Sayers’ X account was compromised, and he was not responsible for posting the image, he resigned as club president within a fortnight.

Priestley, who is based in Sydney, attends most games and is regularly around the club.

“From a very young age, watching the reserves and seniors with my grandfather, father, and brothers on the city-side wing of our home at IKON Park, Carlton has always given me a strong sense of belonging – no doubt like it has for so many of you,” Priestley said in a statement on the club website.