The Western Bulldogs have poached highly-regarded Ameet Bains from St Kilda as Carlton and Collingwood’s chief executive search continues.

Bains will take the top job at Whitten Oval in December, replacing the retiring Gary Kent.

A former corporate lawyer, Bains has long been considered one of the most influential figures at the Saints in his role as chief operating officer.

The Monash University graduate has played a leading role in the Saints’ list management and also serves as their general counsel.

“We had a broad range of well-credentialled candidates for the position both from inside the AFL industry and from a range of other professions,” Bulldogs president Peter Gordon said on Monday.

“We think that Ameet is ideally suited to our club’s next stage of development, with his mix of legal, commercial, projects and football expertise.”

Bains had been considered among the top contenders to replace Simon Lethlean as the AFL’s football operations manager – a position ultimately filled by former Geelong football boss Steve Hocking.

Lethlean stepped down from his AFL post in July amid revelations he had an “inappropriate” relationship with a co-worker.

The former Hawthorn reserves player is nonetheless viewed as a strong candidate for a club role and has been strongly linked to Carlton, who earlier this month sacked chief executive Steven Trigg.

Lethlean is also viewed as a contender to replace Gary Pert at Collingwood, having reportedly met with Magpies president Eddie McGuire to discuss the vacancy.

Hawthorn last week appointed Geelong second-in-command Justin Reeves as their new chief executive, replacing the sacked Tracey Gaudry.