As Detroit Lions Team President and CEO, Rod Wood oversees all football and business operations of the Lions organization and reports directly to Principal Owner and Chair Sheila Ford Hamp. He was originally appointed Team President on Nov. 19, 2015.
Under Wood's leadership, the Lions have ushered in a new era of success over the last three seasons. In 2024, the team set records during the regular season, posting the most wins (15), touchdowns scored (70) and points scored (564) in a single season in franchise history. The Lions captured their second-consecutive NFC North division title with a 31-9 Week 18 win over rival Minnesota and secured the number-one seed in the NFC for the first time in team history. In 2023, Ford Field hosted its first two playoff games, welcoming an environment of loyal fans that propelled the Lions to their second all-time appearance in the NFC Championship Game.
Wood's direction of the Lions has resulted in unprecedented popularity for the club heading into the 2025 season. Last season, Detroit ranked first in average national TV viewership with an average of 22.65 million people tuning in to watch Lions games. Including the preseason, the Lions will play in 13 nationally-televised games in 2025, highlighted by a Christmas Day matchup at Minnesota that will be broadcast to the world through the NFL's new partnership with NETFLIX. At Ford Field, the Lions' homefield advantage continues to rank as one of the top game presentation environments in the NFL following back-to-back years of sold-out season tickets.
Across the City of Detroit, Wood and the Lions leadership team have helped highlight Detroit on the national stage. The Motor City hosted the 2024 NFL Draft and went on to set a new attendance record for the event with more than 775,000 fans attending over the course of the three days. A week prior to the Draft, the Lions also debuted new uniforms that now feature home blue, road white and alternate black jersey combinations that provide a modern-classic look to the Lions' on-field performance.
In his nine years, Wood has implemented significant changes that range from day-to-day operations to new branding and has done so guided by a mission to improve the team's competitive financial position, fan engagement and overall customer experience. In 2024, Wood helped lead the efforts to align Michigan-based Meijer as the official naming rights partner of the Lions practice facility in Allen Park – now officially known as the Meijer Performance Center. In March of 2025, the Lions and Ford Motor Company extended the stadium naming rights agreement for Ford Field. Ford Field has been the home of the Lions since 2002, making it the second-longest-tenured naming rights partnership in the NFL.
Additionally, Wood has worked to improve the team's football infrastructure at the Lions' Allen Park practice facility. Over the past six years, the organization has completely renovated and updated the weight room, locker room, practice fields and athletic training room, along with other ongoing facility improvements and branding enhancements.
In February 2017, Wood unveiled plans for the first major renovation to Ford Field since it opened its doors in 2002. The $100 million investment incorporated a complete overhaul of the audio and visual experience that featured new videoboards as well as a new state-of-the-art sound system. The stadium's premium spaces also received a complete makeover with expanded offerings to fans. With the fan game-day experience a primary focus for Wood, his team also implemented a significant upgrade to the stadium's Wi-Fi and oversaw the return of a team cheerleading squad for the first time in four decades.
Off the field, Wood has provided support for the team's social justice initiative, Detroit Lions Inspire Change. The initiative began with an initial $600,000 commitment from Mrs. Ford and Lions players in 2018 and has since continued through grants to various Metro Detroit organizations.
At the League level, Wood was appointed to and serves on the NFL's Investment Committee. For the eight years prior to his appointment as team president, Wood worked closely with the Detroit Lions organization and the Ford Family in his role as President and CEO of Ford Estates.
From 1999 until his appointment at Ford Estates in 2007, 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.
Over the years, Wood has been a member on numerous company and non-profit boards. He now serves on the board of trustees and is an officer for Detroit Lions Foundation. He is also a member of the boards for Business Leaders For Michigan, an organization dedicated to making Michigan a Top Ten state for jobs, personal income and a healthy economy; CATCH, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for pediatric patients and their families at Children's Hospital of Michigan and Henry Ford Hospital; the Downtown Detroit Partnership, which includes business, philanthropic and government partners that strengthen the city through strategic initiatives and programs; as well as the Detroit Sports Organizing Corporation.
Wood graduated from Goodrich (Mich.) High School, and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan and a graduate degree from the ABA Graduate School of Commercial Banking.
Wood and his wife, Susan, enjoy spending time with their family – including their daughter, Alison, son-in-law, Brett, two grandchildren - Wesley and Merrick, their son, Taylor, and daughter-in-law, Julia.
