ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Domino's Pizza Inc. has recently promoted key managers and has formed an enhanced internal organization structure.
Richard Allison, 47, was promoted to president, Domino's International. He has been with the company since 2011 and leading its international division since then. He succeeds Michael Lawton, current chief financial officer. Under Allison's leadership, the division added more than 1,800 international stores and 10 new countries. Before joining Domino's, Allison spent more than 13 years at Bain & Company, where he was a partner and co-leader of the firm's restaurant practice.
Russell Weiner, 46, is now president, Domino's USA. He joined Domino's in 2008 from PepsiCo, where he headed up the Pepsi brand. As chief marketing officer, he was central to the success of the Domino's brand turnaround, spurred by the re-launch of its core pizza recipe. Weiner will now be responsible for all domestic franchise and corporate store operations, in addition to US marketing.
Michael Lawton,55, chief financial officer, has accepted the added responsibilities of the company's supply chain division. A member of the Domino's management team since 1999, Lawton has served in key financial and operational roles for the company – including leading its international business for six years. Before joining Domino's, Lawton served in both finance and general management roles for Gerber Products Company.
"I am thrilled to announce a leadership plan that puts our best and most deserving talent on our core businesses and takes advantage of these key leaders' strengths,” said J. Patrick Doyle, president and CEO. My congratulations and strong support go to Ritch, Russell and Mike – great colleagues and strong contributors to the Domino's system."
Allison, Weiner and Lawton will report directly to Doyle in their new roles.
In other news, Domino's achieved global retail sales of more than$2.0 billion during its fiscal third quarter of 2014, comprised of $0.9 billion in the US and $1.1 billion internationally. Domestic same-store sales increased 7.7 percent during the quarter versus the year-ago period. The international division posted same-store sales growth of 7.1 percent, marking the 83rd consecutive quarter of international same-store sales growth. Diluted EPS was 63 cents for the third quarter, which was up 18.9 percent over the company's reported EPS in the prior year quarter, and up 23.5 percent over the company's adjusted EPS in the prior-year quarter.
Domino’s emphasis on technology innovation helped Domino's generate approximately 40 percent of US sales from its digital channels in 2013, as well as reach an estimated $3 billion annually in global digital sales. Domino's recently launched its ordering app for iPad, adding to an existing ordering app lineup that covers nearly 95 percent of the smartphone market. In June 2014, Domino's debuted voice ordering for its iPhone and Android apps, which it calls a technology first within both traditional and e-commerce retail.
Domino's Pizza describes itself as the world leader in pizza delivery. It ranks among the world's top public restaurant brands with its global enterprise of more than 11,250 stores in more than 75 international markets. Domino's achieved global retail sales of more than$8.0 billion in 2013, comprised of nearly $3.8 billion in the US and more than $4.2 billion internationally.