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Business leader Elizabeth Gaines has been voted in as West Coast's next chair, and she knows she has a big job ahead of her.

Highly respected business leader Elizabeth Gaines has become the first female to be elected chair at West Coast, while 2006 premiership player Rowan Jones will serve as her deputy.

Gaines' ascension to the top job was ratified at a board meeting on Tuesday, and she will commence as chair from January 1, 2025.

She will take over from Paul Fitzpatrick, whose tenure finishes after serving the maximum nine years as a director.

Gaines, who has held senior executive roles with Fortescue Metals Group, joined the Eagles' board in 2022 and has served as deputy chair for the past two years.

She knows she faces a big task ahead of her as West Coast attempt to bounce back from three consecutive years of horror on-field results.

"We are acutely aware that we have not performed on the field as we would have liked in the last three years and we are committed to improving in all areas," Gaines said in a statement.

Jones, who played 158 AFL games for West Coast before retiring in 2007, has been elected as deputy chair.

Meanwhile, West Coast's search for its next senior coach is set to heat up over the next fortnight, with a decision expected within weeks.

Collingwood assistant Hayden Skipworth has emerged as a surprise contender, while interim coach Jarrad Schofield, Andrew McQualter, Steven King and Brett Montgomery are others believed to be in the mix.