Detroit’s football fans are nothing if not loyal. Although the Lions last playoff win came in 1991, the team’s supporters have kept their hope and passion alive. The franchise is inextricably linked to Motor City. And like Detroit itself, the Lions are on the verge of a rebirth. There’s a new coach, a new owner, a star-studded lineup, a quarterback in his prime, and a high-octane offensive line.
And then there is the Lions’ chief financial officer (CFO) Luis Perez, who takes on much more than even his C-suite title suggests. Perez was born in Cuba, grew up in New Jersey, pursued an accounting degree, passed the exam, and started working for a large firm that served the Philadelphia Phillies. That kicked off Perez’s career in the sports arena, spanning three major leagues in which he’s developed a reputation as an outside-of-the-box thinker. Now with his second NFL franchise, Perez is leading efforts to use local vendors, eliminate paper tickets, enhance the fan experience, and promote authentic community outreach.
Perez joined the Lions in 2011 as part of a front-office reboot. “Changes had started on the field, but the business side still needed to catch up,” he explains. “We needed to revamp operations to capitalize on a winning football team.” A leadership group (including prominent vice chairman William Ford, Jr.) brought in five new vice presidents and two senior vice presidents. Together, the new guard is working to change the way Lions fans interact with their team.