Rod Wood Named Lions President: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

The Detroit Lions named Rod Wood their new president on Thursday, per Lions.com. The team's owner, Martha Ford, made the following statement following his appointment:

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I am most pleased to announce Rod Wood as our new Team President. 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.

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Wood noted of his appointment:

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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.”

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The team has also established a "general manager search" Advisory Board comprised of Wood and four members of the Ford family.

"Rod’s appointment now gives us the ability to move more decisively with respect to our search for a GM," Ford added in her statement.

Wood was the president and CEO of Ford Estates for the past eight years and has been a close confidant to Lions vice chair Sheila Ford, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. While he'll handle the business side of running the organization, finding the right general manager will be key for the franchise.

The Lions are currently 2-7 and mired in a disappointing season after reaching the playoffs a year ago. The organization has reached the postseason just twice in the past 15 years, and after firing team president Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew earlier in November, it's clear the Ford family is looking to restructure the organization from the top down.