WESTERN Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia has crossed to Hawthorn to head up the Hawks' football department in the wake of Mark Evans' move to the AFL.

Hawthorn announced Fantasia's appointment on Thursday, less than a month after the AFL unveiled Evans as Adrian Anderson's replacement as the League's football operations manager.

Hawthorn CEO Stuart Fox said Fantasia's football industry experience would be a valuable addition to the club.

"We have been impressed with James' leadership style and we're confident he will fit into the high performance culture at Hawthorn well," Fox said.

Fantasia has headed the Bulldogs' football department for the past six years and was Adelaide's recruiting manager from 1995-2007.

Bulldogs CEO Simon Garlick paid tribute to Fantasia's contribution to the club on Thursday.

"Perhaps the greatest contribution James has made to the club is best reflected by the strength of the football department he has been integral in building and the calibre of people that have been brought into footy on his watch," Garlick said.

Nick Bowen covers Hawthorn news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nick