Basic Information

Early Life and Family Legacy

Born into the pioneering Ilitch family—founders of Little Caesars Pizza and owners of the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings—Lisa Ilitch Murray is a third-generation steward of one of Detroit’s most influential business dynasties. From answering the phones at age 10 to observing boardroom strategy sessions, she absorbed the values of entrepreneurial grit and community investment that defined her grandfather, Mike Ilitch (Wikipedia).

Raised alongside six siblings, Lisa witnessed first-hand how the family turned a single pizza shop into a diversified sports and entertainment enterprise. Her upbringing instilled in her a sense of responsibility not only to sustain the family legacy but to innovate its outreach into Detroit’s urban renaissance.

Role at the Detroit Red Wings and Corporate Communications

As Executive Vice President of the Detroit Red Wings, Lisa Ilitch Murray has overseen the franchise’s branding, fan engagement, and community-relations initiatives. Under her leadership, the Wings enhanced their market presence through interactive fan festivals, youth hockey programs, and charitable partnerships—helping maintain sellout crowds at Little Caesars Arena and bolstering hockey’s grassroots in southeast Michigan.

Simultaneously, as Head of Corporate Communications for Ilitch Holdings, she has crafted unified messaging across the family’s diverse assets, which include professional sports teams, entertainment venues, and real-estate ventures. Her strategic communications campaigns have positioned Ilitch Holdings as a catalyst for Detroit’s downtown revitalization, emphasizing the family’s commitment to job creation and urban renewal.

Steering the “Build the Ballpark” Campaign

One of Lisa’s hallmark achievements was coordinating the “Build the Ballpark” campaign to redevelop Detroit’s historic Tiger Stadium site. Partnering with civic leaders, neighborhood associations, and state agencies, she served as public spokesperson—articulating the project’s vision to convert the former stadium grounds into a mixed-use community hub featuring housing, retail, and green space (MSU ABJ Matrix Video).

The campaign’s transparent stakeholder engagement process, driven by Lisa’s thoughtful communication strategy, elevated local support and secured critical funding commitments. In doing so, she demonstrated how corporate leadership can align business objectives with neighborhood revitalization goals.

Driving Impact Across Ilitch Holdings

Within Ilitch Holdings, Lisa has championed cross-division initiatives, such as unifying the marketing teams of Little Caesars Pizza, the Detroit Tigers, and the Detroit Red Wings under a cohesive community-outreach framework. This synergy has amplified the family’s philanthropic footprint—supporting youth education programs, health clinics, and cultural festivals throughout Michigan.

Her annual “Ilitch Family Gives Back” event has become a hallmark of the company’s corporate social responsibility calendar, mobilizing employees and stakeholders to undertake service projects across Detroit neighborhoods.

Personal Philanthropy and Public Profile

Though Lisa maintains a deliberately low personal media presence, she occasionally appears in family-branded social media posts and local press features. In 2024, Crain’s Detroit Business recognized her as a “Difference Maker” for her leadership in sports branding and urban development (Crain’s Detroit Business).

She also serves on the boards of several Detroit-area nonprofit organizations, including the Downtown Detroit Partnership and the Michigan Women’s Foundation. Through these roles, she advocates for inclusive economic development and supports mentorship programs for emerging female leaders in business.

Legacy and Succession Planning

With over two decades in the family enterprise, Lisa Ilitch Murray is now spearheading succession planning for the next generation of Ilitch leaders. She mentors younger family members—such as her brother Atanas Ilitch—to ensure they are equipped with both operational expertise and community-oriented values.

Her emphasis on ethical leadership, transparent communication, and deep community ties positions Ilitch Holdings for continued success as Detroit evolves. Lisa’s vision is to blend tradition with innovation, reinforcing the family’s mission to enrich the city’s cultural and economic landscape.

FAQ

Who is Lisa Ilitch Murray?

Lisa Ilitch Murray is a third-generation Ilitch family business leader, serving as Executive Vice President of the Detroit Red Wings and Head of Corporate Communications for Ilitch Holdings.

What is the “Build the Ballpark” campaign?

“Build the Ballpark” was a redevelopment initiative transforming the Tiger Stadium site into a mixed-use community space, for which Lisa served as public spokesperson and campaign coordinator.

How has Lisa contributed to Detroit’s revitalization?

Through strategic branding, community relations, and philanthropy across the Red Wings, Tigers, and Little Caesars divisions, she has helped drive urban renewal and economic growth in downtown Detroit.

Does Lisa Ilitch Murray have a public social-media presence?

She maintains a low public profile, appearing mainly in Ilitch family–branded channels and select business awards features.

Who is Atanas Ilitch?

Atanas Ilitch is Lisa’s brother, an actor-turned-executive within the Ilitch sports and entertainment empire.