Peter Karmanos, Jr.
Peter Karmanos, Jr. (born in
Detroit, Michigan) is the CEO of
Compuware Corporation and owner of the
Carolina Hurricanes,
Plymouth Whalers, and
Florida Everblades hockey franchises. He founded the
Karmanos Cancer Institute in
2001 in memory of his wife
Barbara Ann Karmanos, who died of
breast cancer in
1989.
Born into a
Greek immigrant family Karmanos did not start speaking
English until he was in grade school. He graduated from
Wayne State University and founded
Compuware, a
software company based in Detroit, in
1973, with two partners,
Thomas Thewes and Allen Cutting.
Karmanos cofounded the Detroit Compuware Hockey organization in the late 1970's with his partner
Thomas Thewes. The organization includes all levels of hockey from recreational to AAA & Junior A. The
Ontario Hockey League awarded an expansion franchise on December 11th, 1989 to be known as the
Detroit Compuware Ambassadors. The team later became the
Detroit Jr. Red Wings,
Detroit Whalers, and are now called the
Plymouth Whalers.
Karmanos purchased the
Hartford Whalers in
1994. At the time, Karmanos had committed to keeping the team in Hartford. Connecticut's governor at the time, Lowell P. Weicker announced that Karmanos would be critical for the team to stay in Hartford. Weicker later became a member of the Compuware Board of Directors. Karmanos announced the team would leave Hartford before a new city had been found. Subsequently, the team was moved to North Carolina and renamed the
Carolina Hurricanes following the 1996-1997 season. Karmanos moved the team, despite high attendance and his earlier commitment to hockey in Hartford. As a result, Karmanos is still reviled by many people in Connecticut. Mr. Karmanos received the
Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey after the
1997-98 season. The team went on to win the
Stanley Cup in
2006.
The same competitive spirit which led to Karmanos' success as an entrepreneur also fuels his sponsorship of youth hockey programs in Michigan. Under his guidance, Karmanos' youth hockey teams have accumulated numerous state, national and international tournaments. While junior and midget teams are the focal points of Karmanos' commitment to hockey, countless youth hockey programs benefit each season through the efforts and contributions of the Plymouth Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes and Compuware.
He resides in
Michigan with his third wife
Danielle Tynan. Karmanos has three sons from his first marriage, Peter III, Nick and Jason.
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Compuware web site*
Compuware Ambassadors web site
