Jason King has been appointed Manly CEO, with the premiership-winning prop to vacate his role as head of the NRL's integrity unit.
King was confirmed as the Sea Eagles next boss on Wednesday, just a day after Tony Mestrov confirmed he would leave the role next month.
A local junior who played all 239 of his NRL games for Manly and the Northern Eagles, King was one of the club's most reliable players between 2001 and 2014.
He has since risen through the ranks of the NRL administration and took over as integrity unit boss in 2022, while also being a practising solicitor.
A life member of the Sea Eagles and former captain, King will start at Brookvale early next year.
"It's an incredible honour to be appointed the next chief executive of the Sea Eagles," King said.
"This club has been a defining part of my life and I feel humbled to return in this leadership role.
"I am deeply grateful to the club's ownership and Board for the trust they have placed in me and for the opportunity to serve a club that means so much to me and the community."
King will return to Manly as the club's seventh CEO in just over 11 years, with the Sea Eagles desperately needing stability in their front office.
They will enter next season without Daly Cherry-Evans as halfback for the first time since his 2011 debut.
Tom Trbojevic only recently signed a one-season extension with the Sea Eagles after drawn-out negotiations and has admitted an interest in finishing his career in England.
The Sea Eagles also have Reuben Garrick off contract at the end of 2026, while the club's best player from last season in Tolu Koula has an option to look elsewhere for 2027.
Coach Anthony Seibold survived pressure on his own job through a difficult middle part of this year, while Manly will have money to play with in the 2027 salary cap with forwards a priority.
"As a past captain, playing over 200 games for the Club, makes Jason the perfect candidate to bring the Sea Eagles' new strategic plan to life," chairman Scott Penn said.
"We are delighted to welcome Jason back to the Club as CEO as we celebrate our 80th year in 2026".
