SYDNEY has announced former Geelong and St Kilda forward Charlie Gardiner as the man to succeed Tom Harley as the club's head of football.

Harley will take over from long-standing and highly-influential Swans chief executive and managing director Andrew Ireland, who will retire at the end of the year.

Gardiner played 63 games for the Cats and the Saints from 2002-2008 and is a senior associate at a leading Melbourne law firm.

He spent much of his time at Geelong as the club's representative at the AFL Players' Association.

Harley said the Swans were pleased to have someone of Gardiner's experience in both the footy and legal world join the club.

"Charlie proved himself to be the outstanding candidate to fill this important role during our extensive recruitment process," he said.

"Importantly, he brings elite AFL experience coupled with legal and commercial acumen from his time as a senior associate at one of Melbourne's top law firms.

"Charlie is an outstanding person with strong values, which clearly align with our club values.

"I have the utmost confidence in his ability to work with our senior coach John Longmire and the other members of our football department.

Gardiner will officially commence in the role on November 1, with Ireland to step down and hand over to Harley on December 21.