Peter Karmanos, Jr.

Who is Peter Karmanos, Jr.?

Peter Karmanos, Jr. is the majority owner and chief executive officer of the Carolina Hurricanes, Plymouth Whalers and Florida Everblades hockey franchises.

The oldest of three sons of a Greek immigrant family who owned a small restaurant in Detroit, Karmanos attended Henry Ford High School and graduated from Wayne State University in 1973. Soon after leaving college he found software company Compuware with two partners, Thomas Thewes and Allen Cutting. Karmanos served as Compuware's CEO until June 20, 2011, when he became executive chairman. Karmanos retired from Compuware on March 31, 2013 but maintained a consultant role within the company. Compuware terminated his post-retirement consulting agreement, effective October 1, 2013. He has since opened a new computer firm, Mad Dog Technology.

Karmanos cofounded the Detroit Compuware Hockey organization in the late 1970s with Thewes. The organization includes all levels of hockey from recreational to AAA and Junior A. The Ontario Hockey League awarded an expansion franchise on December 11, 1989 to be known as the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors. The team later became the Detroit Junior Red Wings, Detroit Whalers and are now called the Plymouth Whalers following a relocation to nearby Plymouth.