Gillon McLachlan has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Adelaide and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Melbourne. McLachlan played as ruckman for the University of Melbourne Blues, where he was Captain (2000 - 2002) and won the C.W McLeod Trophy for best-and-fairest in 2000. After graduating he moved into a strategic role at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) that involved a variety of industries in different countries including a six-month contract in the Philippines. In May 2000 he joined the AFL as a strategic planner and was appointed General Manager Commercial Operations in November 2003, taking on the additional areas of broadcasting and major projects in 2006. McLachlan was promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer in 2008 with responsibility for AFL broadcasting and digital media, fixturing, venue agreements and stadium infrastructure. Gillon was then appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer in December 2012 and Chief Executive Officer (replacing Andrew Demetriou) on April 30, 2014.