Lions Hire Rod Wood As New Team President

The Detroit Lions announced Thursday that they’ve hired Rod Wood as their new team president to help them established an advisory board for their GM search.

“I am most pleased to announce Rod Wood as our new Team President,” Lions owner Martha Ford said. “Rod’s familiarity with our organization in his role as President and CEO of Ford Estates and his accomplishments in the business world not only make him an ideal choice as Team President, but will also help ensure a smooth and positive transition for our organization.

“It was critical to me and my family to fill the President’s position as soon as possible, provided we identified the right person,” Mrs. Ford said. “I am confident Rod is the right person.

“I also believe Rod’s appointment now gives us the ability to move more decisively with respect to our search for a general manager,” Mrs. Ford added.

“While I am supremely confident Rod will do a great job in his role as President, I also know how critically important hiring the right GM is to the success of our football team,” Mrs. Ford said. “Our No. 1 goal and focus will always be to produce a championship football team and hiring the best GM possible is the next step to making that a reality.”

Wood released a statement as well:

“I am humbled and honored to accept this position. Mrs. Ford has made it clear that her goal, and the goal of the Ford Family, is to make the Detroit Lions a championship football team and organization. In my role as team President, I will do everything possible to provide our organization with all the means necessary to succeed on the football field and provide our fans and city with a championship organization both on and off the field.”

Wood has hired as President and CEO of Ford Estates in 2007. Before that, Wood was Executive Vice President of Wealth Management for the Wilmington Trust Company in Wilmington, Del., directing the company’s wealth management business nationally, and he managed the personal trust, financial planning, private banking, investment management, family office services and sales functions for the wealth advisory business of Wilmington Trust.

We’ll have more regarding Lions’ front office changes as the news is available.