Denise Ilitch

Denise Ilitch has been an integral part of Detroit's business and philanthropic communities for over 40 years as a dedicated business leader and a tireless advocate for women and children. She is an owner of Ilitch Family Companies and president of Ilitch Enterprises, LLC. She previously served as President of Ilitch Holdings, Inc., which manages Little Caesar Enterprises, the Detroit Red Wings, the Detroit Tigers, Olympia Entertainment and Olympia Development. She helped create Detroit's sports district, including the $600 million Comerica Park and Ford Field stadium project.

Ms. Ilitch serves as Regent on the University of Michigan Board of Regents, a Board Member of Tiger 21 Detroit 01, and was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the State of Michigan Investment Board. She hosts a podcast and WJR Radio Show, The Denise Ilitch Show. She established scholarships at the University of Michigan, Walsh College and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, where she earned her Law Degree.

Denise was voted Best Philanthropist in Hour Detroit Magazine "Best of Detroit" 2022 and in 2026 was inducted into the MWF Women's Hall of Fame. She has served on the Boards of the Skillman Foundation, the Detroit Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the Detroit Branch NAACP, as a Detroit Red Wings Alternate Governor for the NHL, a Board Member of Major League Baseball and an ACLU advisory committee member.