Domino’s head of Australia and New Zealand Kerri Hayman, sister to Don Meij, steps down

Newly appointed Domino’s boss Mark van Dyck is continuing to sever links with the past at the pizza maker with country head Kerri Hayman stepping down.

Domino's Pizza CEO Mark van Dyck.

The newly appointed boss of Domino’s Pizza, Mark van Dyck, who vowed upon his arrival there will be no “sacred cows” at the fast good group, has lost executive Kerri Hayman, the sister of his predecessor Don Meij.

Ms Hayman was running Domino’s in Australia and New Zealand. Nine months ago she was hand-picked to oversee around 900 stores in the market where Mr Meij made his name so he could focus on the international strategy.

Like her brother, Ms Hayman began her journey at the well-known pizza chain as a teenager. That 37-year career has now come to an end.

In February, Mr van Dyck promised investors and analysts he would take decisive action to arrest Domino’s declining profitability, slow down its costly global growth ambitions and close stores if needed to right the ship.

It is unclear if Ms Hayman resigned or if her executive role was restructured.

“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,” she said in a statement.

Kerri Hayman in her early days at Domino’s Pizza.

Certainly Mr van Dyck is moving at a fast pace to sever some ties with the company’s past, which saw it become a market darling between 2014 and 2021 as its share price rallied ten-fold and Mr Meij led it into new markets such as Europe and Japan.

However, as profit growth slowed that expansion became a weight around the company’s neck with the share price slumping 58 per cent in the last five years and Mr Meij departing late in 2024.

On Monday, Domino’s announced Ms Hayman will step down in August after a long career with the brand across Australia, Britain and the US.

“Working with Domino’s has given me some of the most rewarding experiences of my life – both professionally and personally – and I’ve developed lifelong friendships with passionate pizza people around the world,” Ms Hayman said.

“I’ve been privileged to serve the Domino’s brand for 37 years – my entire working life – across Australia, the UK, and the USA. I want to thank the board, our franchise partners, and my colleagues for the opportunity to serve as their CEO.

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

“Since returning to Australia in 2023, I’ve been proud of the work we’ve done to strengthen operations – from improving product quality and growing new occasions like lunch, to delivering stronger sales and profits for our franchise partners. Domino’s is now entering a new chapter, with a clear ‘Recipe for Growth’ in place for Australia and New Zealand.”

Mr van Dyck paid tribute to Ms Hayman’s significant contribution saying anyone who had worked with Ms Hayman knew her deep passion for the menu, staff and franchisees.

“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.

“On behalf of the board and executive team, I thank Kerri for her outstanding service and wish her every success in the next phase of her career.”

Ms Hayman got her start working alongside her brother and by 21 was a pizza executive at Silvio’s Pizza in Brisbane.

“Don needed staff and the plan was to only work for him for a few months to help him out, but I ended up quitting my other job at a bakery and staying on,” Ms Hayman once said reflecting on her early days in the pizza kitchen.

Domino’s has appointed former franchise partner Greg Steenson to the role of chief operating officer, Australia, effective immediately.

Originally published as Domino’s head of Australia and New Zealand Kerri Hayman, sister to Don Meij, steps down