Michael White officially joined the Florida Panthers as business operations president, bringing 25 years of experience from Amazon's Zoox and The Walt Disney Company. White will oversee all business aspects of the team's four facilities, including Amerant Bank Arena. His hiring follows Bill Zito's call from Italy during the Olympics, recognizing a shared vision for the organization.

White expressed excitement about working alongside Zito, who built teams that won Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025. "We clicked automatically," White said of their first meeting stretching from 30 minutes to an hour and a half. His background in consumer experience and product development helped set him apart despite Zambonis still requiring drivers when maintaining hockey rinks.

The hire replaces Matthew Caldwell, who left to become CEO of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA's Minnesota Lynx. White faces a concrete deadline: the Panthers must propose development plans to Broward County officials by fall 2028 for property surrounding Amerant Bank Arena. White praised the organization's world-class culture during interactions with the 300 front-office staff.