Judd, who played 145 games for the Blues between 2008 and 2015, will be welcomed back to the club in his new role on the Carlton board.

While many fans would love to see the 33-year-old take a hands-on football role, he has ruled out coaching duties.

Judd told Fairfax Media he felt now was the right time to return to the Blues, while he was still recently retired from football and having been on the committee that selected coach Brendon Bolton.

He said he was attracted by "the ability to feel really part of the club again, and to celebrate the wins and losses with a bit more meaning than you do otherwise".

"It's an exciting time to get involved," Judd said. "From the outside looking in the club has made some hard decisions over the past 12 months, and those look to be really sound, long term decisions."

Judd, who has signed a three-year deal said current football director Adrian Gleeson would hand over to him at the end of the footy season, and he would spend the next six months getting ready for the job.

"You hope to see continual improvement and as a director you're taking a broader view than the players."