Domino’s Australia boss abruptly resigns after nine months

Struggling pizza giant Domino’s is on the hunt for a new chief executive of its Australia business after the resignation of Kerri Hayman, who has been in the role for little more than half a year.

Hayman was announced as Domino’s Australia’s new chief executive in August last year, when she told this masthead that improving the pizza business from the inside out would be her legacy. She joined the pizza business in 1988 alongside her brother, Don Meij, who would go on to become global CEO.

Kerri Hayman has resigned after nine months as CEO of Domino’s Pizza, Australia and New Zealand.Credit:

In a statement to the ASX, Hayman said she had served Domino’s for 37 years across Australia, Britain and the United States, which has given her some of the most rewarding experiences of her life.

“This is the right time for me to take the next step in my journey,” she said.

“Domino’s is now entering a new chapter, with a clear ‘recipe for growth’ in place for Australia and New Zealand. With the business well positioned for the future, I feel confident this is the right time for me to open a new chapter of my own.”

The abrupt departure marks further leadership turmoil for the pizza company. Meij, a longstanding former CEO, held the role of group chief executive for 22 years, including CEO of the Australia business, before handing over those reins to his sister to focus on international markets, where low-cost pizzas have been failing to take off with some Asian and European customers.

Meij, who stepped down from the global CEO role in November, was replaced by board adviser and former Coca-Cola executive Mark van Dyck, whose first move as chief executive was to shut 200 underperforming stores – 172 in Japan, some in Europe and four in Australasia.

Domino’s Pizza’s Mark van Dyck (centre), former CEO Don Meij (left) and chairman Jack Cowin (right).Credit: Peter Wallis

Van Dyck thanked Hayman for her service and wished her success on her next steps. “Since her return to Australia, she has helped make Domino’s a stronger, more resilient business, drawing on her global experience and unwavering commitment to operational excellence.”

Hayman will stay on until the end of August for a smooth transition, marking a year since she began as CEO. The company will conduct an international recruitment search and consider internal candidates.

Former franchise partner and head of operations Greg Steenson has been appointed chief operating officer, effective immediately.

Meij has gone on to host his own podcast about entrepreneurship – Meijor League with Don Meij.

Investors appeared displeased with the update, sending Domino’s share price over 3 per cent lower at the close.

Wilson Asset Management Shaun Weick said departure of Hayman, as Meij’s sister, may indicate legacy issues that were difficult to manage at a board level.

“Most importantly and more broadly, I think it’s just symbolic of a board and a senior executive team that want to drive operational change and improve the business,” he said.

The Australian market would not be the only region up for review, said Weick, who added that other markets would continue to be scrutinised.

“Some hard decisions and changes have had to be made, and I think this is just all part of [global CEO] Mark’s mandate to go in there and try to drive change and get the business back on stronger footing … This is one of the fallouts of that, I suppose.”

UBS’ Shaun Cousins said the management change was not a surprise given the broader turnaround efforts under way.

While Australia has been one of the company’s best-performing markets, competition in the fast food space is heating up as popular homegrown players such as Guzman y Gomez flag an ambitious growth trajectory and US chains such as Wendy’s, Five Guys and Wingstop seek to gain traction with Australian consumers.

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