From Amazon Robotaxis to Stanley Cup Glory: Panthers Just Hired a Business Mastermind

The Florida Panthers just announced their new business operations president, and this hire is a big deal. Michael White, a 25-year veteran of tech and guest experience leadership, officially took the job Tuesday. He's coming in to run all business operations across four Panthers facilities: Amerant Bank Arena, Baptist Health IcePlex, Panthers IceDen, and War Memorial Auditorium. But here's what makes this interesting: White says he clicked instantly with the guy who built the team that won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025.

The Zito Factor Changed Everything

White got a call a few weeks ago from Bill Zito, the Panthers' hockey operations president, who was calling from Italy at the time. Zito was over there as part of the leadership team for the U.S. men's hockey squad that won gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics. That's when White knew this was the right move. "We clicked automatically," White said. "Our first meeting was supposed to be 30 minutes, went an hour and a half and we probably could have talked another two hours." Zito was one of the primary reasons White took the job. White called him "one of one, a legend, but also somebody that you want to partner with."

Tech Pedigree Meets Hockey Business Acumen

White comes to South Florida after serving as chief product officer at Amazon's autonomous vehicle company Zoox, where he helped develop an autonomous robotaxi. Before that, he spent several senior leadership roles at The Walt Disney Company, including work on the execution of the 2019-20 NBA season restart that was played in a bubble on the Disney campus near Orlando after the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down. Michael Viola, part of the Panthers ownership family, said the organization conducted a "diligent and comprehensive search" and is confident White is the right fit. "He brings to our club a proven record in consumer experience, partnership growth and product development for some of the world's most successful companies," Viola said.

White's got work to do fast, though. The Panthers have until fall of 2028 to propose development plans to Broward County officials for property surrounding Amerant Bank Arena. But with a Cup-winning culture already in place and a leader who gets it behind the scenes, the Panthers organization looks ready to keep rolling.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.