Hawthorn have sacked chief executive Tracey Gaudry, just five months after she was appointed as the first woman to run an AFL club.
The Hawks confirmed Gaudry's departure late on Monday, with board member and commercial lawyer Peter Nankivell to serve as interim CEO.
A former Olympic cyclist and Athletics Australia official, Gaudry was a surprise appointment to replace Stuart Fox in May and was believed to have clashed with Hawks officials and football department staff.
The 48-year-old, who is also a vice president of world cycling's governing body, had no prior football industry experience when she became the first female to take on a full-time CEO role at an AFL club.
Hawks president Richard Garvey said at the time the board was excited to bring in an outsider who could drive change.
Gaudry competed as a road cyclist at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics and was ranked No.3 in the world at her peak.
In a statement on Monday, the Hawks said Gaudry had faced "extenuating family and personal circumstances" that had made an impact on her role.
Hawthorn join Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs as teams searching for a new chief executive.
Magpies chief Gary Pert resigned in July, while Bulldogs counterpart Gary Kent has confirmed he will depart once the board secures a suitable replacement.
Former AFL football boss Simon Lethlean has been linked to the Magpies' job but could also be targeted by the Hawks.
Lethlean stepped down from his AFL post in July amid revelations he had an "inappropriate" relationship with a co-worker, but the former Hawthorn reserves player is viewed as a strong candidate for a club role.
After winning four premierships over the past decade, Hawthorn have begun to rebuild their list under long-serving coach Alastair Clarkson.
The Hawks finished last season in 12th place, having traded away beloved veterans Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis.
Former skipper Luke Hodge is expected to backflip on his retirement plans and join Brisbane during the upcoming trade period.
One of the AFL's biggest clubs with more than 75,000 members, the Hawks will develop new multi-million dollar headquarters at Dingley in Melbourne's south-east over the next decade.
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