Anita Klopfenstein

Anita Klopfenstein is the Global Chief Information and Digital Officer of Little Caesars and Ilitch Owned Companies.  She is responsible for the overall strategic direction, development, deployment, and maintenance of technology across all Ilitch Holdings ten companies.  This includes Little Caesars, the third largest pizza chain in the world, Red Wings National Hockey Team, Tigers Major League Baseball Team, Little Caesars Areana, Champion Foods, and many others.

Prior to Little Caesars, Klopfenstein was vice president, eCommerce and consumer systems at Panera Bread, where she oversaw consumer systems product development and commerce and marketing systems integration. With more than 35 years of successful experience managing profitable information technology departments in highly competitive markets, Klopfenstein is known for her track record of developing software products and leadership in internet, enterprise and manufacturing operations. She holds a B.S. in computer science and radio, TV, and film from Indiana State University and an M.B.A. from Liberty University. In 2017, Klopfenstein was recognized as Top Innovator at the Women in Foodservice Technology Awards. In 2021, she was recognized as the Michigan Global CIO of the Year by Inspire CIO.  In 2022 she was named CIO of the year by Inspire CIO in the Enterprise Category. In 2023, Anita received, CIO of the year award from HMG Strategy in the Large Cap division.

Anita is also very active in various Community Organizations.   She is on the advisory board of Michigan Council of Women in Technology.   The mission of MCWT is to make Michigan the Number one state for Women in Technology.  The MCWT network is comprised of executives, students, business owners, entrepreneurs and others dedicated to a thriving technology community. Through mentoring, leadership development, networking, and technology experiences for all career cycles—from youth summer camps, to college and graduate school scholarships, to professional networking events, and more—we are inspiring and nurturing technologically oriented women.  Anita teaches leadership classes as well as mentoring high school and college students.

Klopfenstein is on the Advisory board for Tech United.  Tech United is a dedicated group of chief information officers and IT professionals from local enterprise companies. The team is committed to closing the digital divide and increasing STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) opportunities for students.

In Addition, Anita is active on the Wayne State University Technology, Information Systems and Analytics Advisory board.  The board provides industry-based insight to students and faculty for the WSU ISM program to improve and better prepare students to meet the business community’s ever-changing needs.

Outside of work, Klopfenstein and her husband Lynn live with their 12 children. For more than 30 years, the couple has provided foster care, and they have been named foster parents of the year several times in Illinois. Klopfenstein plays the clarinet, enjoys martial arts, and has run more than 30 marathons.