Lions Hire Rod Wood As Team President, Establish Advisory Board For GM Search

By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby

The Detroit Lions announced Thursday they have hired Rod Wood as team president. The team also announced that owner Martha Firestone Ford had set up an advisory board to help with the search for a new general manager.

"I am most pleased to announce Rod Wood as our new Team President," Ford said in a statement. "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."

Wood will handle the business side of the Lions, and will report directly to Ford. He had previously been President and CEO of Ford Estates. He will also serve on the team's "advisory board" which will work to find a new general manager. After Martin Mayhew was fired, Sheldon White took over as interim GM, and said last week that the best way to get the permanent job is to keep winning games for the rest of the season.

The GM search advisory board will include Ford and Wood, in addition to Ford's children, Martha Ford Morse, Sheila Ford Hamp, William Clay Ford, Jr. and Elizabeth Ford Kontulis.

That advisory board, according to the team release, will "continue to use the resources available at the National Football League for their GM search, specifically the NFL's Career Development Advisory Panel."

Besides being "around" the Lions organization for several years, and working with the Ford family, Wood does not have any formal experience in football.

According to Bloomberg Business, Ford Estates is the "single family office for the Ford family in Detroit, Michigan." Within Wood's role as president and CEO, he "directs the delivery of a comprehensive set of financial and lifestyle management services to members of the Ford family."

According to that same Bloomberg profile, Wood previously worked for Wilmington Trust Company, where he "managed the personal trust, financial planning, private banking, investment management, family office services and sales functions for the Wealth Advisory business" of the company.

Even though Wood's experience has not been in professional football, Ford said in her statement that she is "confident Rod is the right person."

Lions head coach Jim Caldwell echoed the same sentiment.

"I know without question he's a smart man," he said. "He's handled a lot of very, very difficult tasks in a lot of work that he's been in and he's been around football enough. We see him around here quite a bit."

In the team statement released Thursday, Wood said, "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."

According to the Lions' team spokesman, Wood will be available to the media on Friday.