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While Domino’s Pizza Enterprises (ASX: DMP) continues its search for a new group CEO, the company has firmed up its leadership team with the appointment of industry veteran Merrill Pereyra to lead its Australian and New Zealand operations.
Pereyra is one of two senior appointments announced today, including the expanded role of group chief financial officer George Saoud to include group chief operating officer.
Saoud’s role is effective immediately, while Pereyra will take up his position on 23 January this year.
Pereyra brings to Dominio's more than 30 years’ experience in the quick service restaurant industry including regional leadership roles with McDonald’s and CEO of Domino’s Pizza Indonesia.
As the executive director and Restaurants CEO for QSR Brands, the Yum! Brands franchisee for KFC and Pizza Hut, Domino’s says he delivered five years of positive same-store sales growth for Pizza Hut Malaysia.
Since 2019, Pereyra has been managing director of Pizza Hut, India, for Yum! Brands, where he led a “turnaround of sales performance and halved store paybacks”.
“We are delighted to appoint an experienced industry executive of Merrill’s calibre to the key ANZ market for our company,” says Domino’s executive chairman Jack Cowin.
“Merrill has a track record of building franchise relationships, growing same store sales and unit economics to return to network expansion.
“The board is confident he will work closely with our franchise partners to improve our business performance.”
Meanwhile, Saoud’s expanded role as group COO and CFO will see him take on leadership responsibility for Technology and Procurement & Supply Chain, in addition to his leadership of the company’s financial strategy and capital management.
Domino’s says Saoud's new responsibilities will help drive sustainable growth across global operations, and reflects the company’s focus on “disciplined execution, operational performance and cost management across the group”.
“George is an experienced business leader who will lead the critical elements of Domino’s strategy, across our international operations,” says Cowin.
Cowin, a fast-food industry pioneer and chairman of Domino’s since 2014, assumed the role of executive chair in July last year following the sudden departure of Mark van Dyck after just eight months in the role he filled following the retirement of long-time CEO Don Meij in 2024.
In tandem with today’s leadership announcements, Domino’s says the search for a permanent group CEO is “progressing well”.
Shares in Domino’s surged to an intra-day high of $24.09 this morning, and were trading 76c higher at $23.31 at 2.33pm (AEDT).
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