Former pizza delivery driver David Burness takes senior role at Domino’s

A Domino’s store owner and former Queensland delivery driver is a potential heir apparent to CEO Don Meij, after taking on a key role.

Domino's CEO Don Meij plans to double business. Pic Annette Dew

A former Queensland delivery driver has been appointed as a top lieutenant to Domino’s Pizza boss Don Meij as the company moves to double in size over the next decade.

The Brisbane-based fast food giant on Tuesday announced a major reshuffle of its management team, with David Burness taking on the powerful position of chief executive for Domino’s Australian and New Zealand operations.

Mr Burness, who replaces Nick Knight, started as a delivery driver for Silvio’s Dial-A-Pizza in 1991 before becoming a franchise consultant and serving as chief operations officer for the Domino’s business in the Netherlands.

He owns seven Domino’s stores on the Sunshine Coast with his wife Melissa, with their four children all working in the business.

Other management changes will see Domino’s Japan chief executive and president Josh Kilimnik take on the expanded role of chief executive of Asia Pacific (APAC).

Current Japan chief marketing officer Todd Reilly will become chief marketing officer for APAC while Europe chief commercial Officer Nicky Claeys will perform an expanded role in that region.

Mr Meij said the changes, which he called a “twin region focus”, would provide Domino’s with a platform on which to build a business double its size over the next decade.

A line up of leading Domino’s figures: left to right CEO Don Meij, Brett Moore, Melissa Burness, new Australia and NZ CEO David Burness, and the man he replaced, Nick Knight.

“The Europe and APAC regions each have a population base of about 180 million people with significant opportunity for both organic growth and acquisitions,” said Mr Meij.

“As we accelerate to 2030 and beyond, we will grow much larger businesses in both regions, with each planned to be bigger than the entire company of today.”

Domino’s shares have more than doubled over the past year as the company benefited from growth demand for home delivery during the pandemic. Its shares were trading 0.2 per cent higher at $158.76 on Tuesday morning.

Mr Meij paid tribute to Mr Knight’s two decades of service to Domino’s, which started when he was a teenager in regional New South Wales.

“Nick grew to become a store manager, one of the best multi-unit franchisees in Domino’s globally, and then an executive, where he has spearheaded a strategic improvement in our franchisee base,” said Mr Meij.

“It is never easy to farewell a true Dominoid like Nick – but the measure of success of a leader is the team they inspire, and Nick has built a formidable team.”

Originally published as Former pizza delivery driver David Burness takes senior role at Domino’s