Detroit Radio: NFL Lions Fire SVP/Marketing

Elizabeth Parkinson

A Detroit Lions executive who figured in the dust-up over the awarding of the broadcast contract is out.

The Detroit Lions on Wednesday confirmed the exit of another senior executive: Elizabeth Parkinson, the team’s senior vice president of marketing and partnerships. The team declined to offer any specifics.

With the Lions, she was in charge of all marketing, including advertising, guest experience, public relations, corporate communications, promotions, online and electronic services and corporate programs.

Parkinson was in the news when the Lions switched radio broadcasters in November, dropping CBS Radio Inc.-owned WXYT 97.1 FM after 15 years in favor of WJR 760 AM, owned by Atlanta-based Cumulus Media Inc. The decision sparked media and fan criticism because WXYT management and on-air staff accused the Lions of seeking to tamper on-air criticism of the team.

Broadcast deals were handled for the team by Parkinson, and she vehemently denied the censorship accusation. “WJR came to the table with a better deal. It was a pure business decision,” Parkinson told Crain’s Detroit Business.