Kerin, who is also chair of the South Australian Football Commission, was appointed to the role on Wednesday after just over a year on the SMA board.

He succeeds former South Australian Governor Kevin Scarce, whose four-year term as chair concluded this month.

Scarce remains an Adelaide Oval director.

Kerin said his predecessor had “been an outstanding chair during a very demanding time for our organisation”.

“He oversaw the completion and launch of the hugely successful Oval Hotel venture and his leadership has been fundamental to our navigation of the challenges posed by the global pandemic,” Kerin said in a statement.

“I am honoured to be nominated to the position of chair and I look forward to building on our achievements and to continuing to deliver a world-class product for South Australia.”

Kerin was South Australia’s premier from October 2001 to March 2002. His life after politics has included numerous high profile board appointments, including Chair of both Primary Producers SA and Oysters SA.

The change in non-executive governance at Adelaide Oval comes just weeks before the SMA welcomes Nick Addison as its new chief executive.

The Victorian racing industry executive is set to take over from long-time SMA boss Andrew Daniels, who will retire from the position on May 31, marking exactly 10 years since taking on the role. Daniels has since been appointed the chair of the newly-reformed Motorsport Board to oversee the return of the Adelaide 500 event.