FREMANTLE has appointed Steve Rosich as its new chief executive to replace Cameron Schwab who is returning home to Melbourne.

Fremantle president Rick Hart made the announcement at a press conference at the Fremantle Football Club.

Rosich, 38, has been with Fremantle since 2004 after time with West Coast as business operations manager and prior to that he had a leading role with international chartered accounting firm Deloitte.

He is a chartered accountant with a bachelor of business degree from the University of Western Australia.

Meanwhile, Schwab has emerged as a strong candidate to replace Paul McNamee at Melbourne, where he was chief executive from 1997-99. Fremantle coach Mark Harvey believes Melbourne should definitely consider the now former Fremantle boss.

"If you have a look at what Cameron has done at this football club he has been sensational to take it from where it was when he started to where it is, so he has got the credentials there's no question," Harvey said.