DETROIT, MICH. ~ After conducting a national search, the Detroit Lions have a named a successor to former president Rod Wood, who retired in March. Pistons COO Richard Haddad will serve as the team’s next president and CEO, Principal Owner and Chair Sheila Hamp announced on Wednesday.
After 14 years with Pistons Sports and Entertainment and the Detroit Pistons, Haddad will move across town to his new role in early September as Wood will remain in place to steer the organization.
“I am thrilled to join the Detroit Lions organization as its next President and CEO,” said the Michigan native Haddad in a press release. “I want to thank Sheila Hamp and the Ford family for their trust in me, along with Tom Gores and Arn Tellem for 14 great years with the Pistons. As a lifelong Lions fan, I understand firsthand how much this team means to this city and state, and I’m honored and humbled to lead this franchise. Sheila, Rod [Wood], Brad [Holmes] and Dan [Campbell] have built an incredible foundation, and I can’t wait to work with them to build on that and deliver for our fans and our community.”
Haddad played a big role in many key happenings over the last decade, including the Pistons move downtown, the building of the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center, and securing the return of a WNBA franchise to Detroit.
