ALLEN PARK >> Martha Ford did not go far to find the new team president for her Detroit Lions.
Rod Wood has worked with the Ford family and the Lions organization in his role as president and CEO of Ford Estates.
Wood’s expertise is business not football.
He replaces Tom Lewand who was fired on Nov. 5. Lewand negotiated contracts and managed the salary cap. It’s unclear if Wood will take on those responsibilities. They could fall to the new general manager who will replace Martin Mayhew who was also fired on Nov. 5.
Wood, 55, did not meet with the media on Thursday because he was with Mrs. Ford working on the search for the general manager. He will hold a press conference on Friday afternoon.
He did issue a statement: “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.”
Coach Jim Caldwell said he is familiar with the new president. “Sure. Quite a bit. Typically, in most of my interactions with him, he’s been around a lot with Mrs. Ford here, so I’m well acquainted with him,” Caldwell said.
Also on Thursday a GM search advisory board was named. It includes Wood, Mrs. Ford and her four children – Martha Ford Morse, Sheila Ford Hamp, William Clay Ford, Jr. and Elizabeth Ford Kontulis.
“I am most pleased to announce Rod Wood as our new team president,” Mrs. 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.
“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 continued. “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 continued.
She knows hiring the right general manager is key.
“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.”
She confirmed that the team’s advisory board will continue to use the resources available at the NFL for their GM search, specifically the NFL’s Career Development Advisory Panel.
Wood was hired as President and CEO of Ford Estates in 2007. From 1999 until his appointment at Ford Estates, Wood was Executive Vice President of Wealth Management for the Wilmington Trust Company in Wilmington, Del., a $400 million operation with 17 offices in eight states. Wood directed the company’s entire 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. Prior to joining Wilmington Trust, Wood held an executive position with Comerica Bank where he oversaw 12 offices in four states.
He’s graduated from the University of Michigan and Goodrich High School.
Wood and his wife, Susan, have one daughter, Allison, and a son, Taylor.
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