Zambrero owner Dr Sam Prince loses second CEO amid executive shake-up
The bloodletting in the executive ranks of billionaire Dr Sam Prince’s businesses continues, with the loss of another CEO.
Dr Sam Prince, the billionaire owner of Australia’s largest Mexican fast food chain, has lost a second chief executive in almost as many months, as he continues to shake up his executive team with a big-name hire from a rival.
Guy Haslehurst, the longtime CEO of Dr Prince’s family office, the Prince Group, left the business on Thursday, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the matter.
It marks the second CEO and at least the fourth senior executive to leave one of Dr Prince’s businesses in recent months.
Mr Haslehurst, a former executive director at EY, had worked at the Prince Group for almost nine years, first as chief financial and operating officer and then the last six-and-a-half years as CEO.
A spokesperson confirmed Mr Haslehurst’s departure, insisting there had been an “orderly transition”.
“Guy has resigned to spend time with his family,” the spokesperson said. He has been replaced by James Bartlett who has spent the last 15 years at EY.
The Prince Group is effectively a parent company for a diverse portfolio of businesses, spanning healthcare, hospitality, supermarket goods and technology.
Insiders say that many staff employed by the Prince Group often work interchangeably with the businesses under its umbrella, particularly the most successful, Zambrero.
Dr Prince has poached Domino’s chief operating officer in Japan, Brett Moore, to be Zambrero’s new COO, as the Mexican-inspired fast food chain is aiming to build its global footprint from 399 restaurants to 500 over the next few years.
Mr Moore, who has over 30 years’ of franchise and operational experience in Domino’s, was the pizza chain’s former COO in Australia. He replaces Brad Flinn, who has been appointed chief development officer.
That role was empty after the recent sacking of Chris Chase. It is not clear if the head of marketing position has been filled after Jade Clark was also shown the door. Former chief financial officer Owen Kemp also resigned in late October.
Dr Prince said the new hires were about laying the foundations for a “strong and exciting future”.
“I’m delighted to welcome Brett Moore and James Bartlett into key leadership roles within Zambrero and the Prince Group,” Dr Prince said.
“Brett brings exceptional operational capability built over decades within Domino’s Pizza, a listed global organisation, and James adds outstanding financial and strategic expertise to our Family Office.”
The executive bloodletting kicked off in October with the abrupt departure of Dr Prince’s loyal lieutenant and CEO of Zambrero Matthew Kenny. His replacement, Darryl McCormack, previously told The Australian that Dr Prince was “heavily involved” in the shake-up of the executive team and the hiring process for new staff.
“I’m excited about the talent joining us and what it means for our business. I think you will be excited too,” Mr McCormack told franchisees last month.
Mr McCormack is coming to the end of a mammoth six-week “national listening tour” where he is hearing the views of the company’s franchisees.
“Our first plan is to grow within Australia. We’ve had unprecedented interest from our franchise partners for more locations,” he told this publication.
Asked if Zambrero had any plans for a public listing like its rivals Guzman y Gomez, Mr McCormack demurred, insisting the company still had “so much to achieve”.
“That’s a decision I’ll leave for the owners of the business,” he added.
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Originally published as Zambrero owner Dr Sam Prince loses second CEO amid executive shake-up
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