Domino’s names – Domino’s Pizza appointed Joe Jordan—currently COO and President of Domino’s U.S.—as CEO effective Oct. 1, replacing Russell Weiner, who will move to Executive Chairman. The change arrives after first-quarter sales fell far below projections, as pizza chains fa
For Domino’s, the problem started showing up on the scoreboard—its first-quarter sales falling far below projections. By Monday, the company moved to change the leadership behind the counter: Domino’s named Joe Jordan, its current COO and President of Domino’s U.S., as CEO, effective Oct. 1.
Jordan will succeed Russell Weiner, who will become executive chairman. Weiner is set to retire as CEO and transition to Executive Chairman in 2027. Current Executive Chairman David A. Brandon will retire from the Board in 2027 after nearly three decades of service to the company.
In a Monday press release, Domino’s framed the decision as an internal handoff. Jordan has spent 15 years at Domino’s across roles that span marketing, innovation and other functions. Most recently. Domino’s said Jordan led the relaunch of its loyalty and e-commerce platforms. and helped launch its global digital marketplace partnerships.
“Joe is a proven leader whose experience spans virtually every aspect of our business,” said Domino’s current executive chairman, David Brandon. “After a thoughtful succession planning process, the Board unanimously concluded that Joe is the right leader to serve as Domino’s next CEO.”
Brandon added that Jordan “embodies Domino’s culture of developing leaders from within,” has earned the trust of franchisees across the global system, and is “uniquely qualified to guide the Company through its next phase of growth.”
The package also includes specifics that signal how seriously the board is taking performance. A regulatory filing referenced as part of the transition shows Jordan’s annual base salary would be $925,000, with eligibility for a target annual bonus of 200% of his base pay.
Domino’s leadership change lands amid pressure that is spreading across the category. Rising labor and ingredient costs are squeezing margins. and competition from delivery service apps like DoorDash has intensified the fight for orders. Legacy chains haven’t been spared: Papa Johns and Pizza Hut have both seen quarter-over-quarter drops in U.S. sales.
Papa Johns has said it would close nearly 300 underperforming locations through the end of 2027. Pizza Hut, meanwhile, was sold last week to private equity firm LongRange Capital and Yum China for $2.7 billion.
Even fast-casual and dine-in pizza operators have faced a downturn, with the market described here as heavily over-saturated—leading to dips in sales and shuttered locations.
Whether Domino’s order tracker will feel any immediate shakeup is unclear; the company hasn’t said if the change will affect it.
The board’s choice of Jordan may be a deliberate bet on familiarity—Jordan has deep experience with Domino’s franchise system and. as the company’s own history of roles suggests. a strong grip on how customers engage with the brand. That kind of internal continuity can matter when a turnaround is as much about execution as it is about strategy. But the broader reality is harder to ignore: Domino’s isn’t operating in a vacuum. and the pizza market’s cost pressures and delivery-driven competition aren’t waiting for a new CEO to settle into the role.
Domino’s Pizza Joe Jordan Russell Weiner David A. Brandon CEO appointment first-quarter sales pizza industry DoorDash loyalty relaunch e-commerce platforms delivery apps Papa Johns Pizza Hut LongRange Capital Yum China restaurant closures franchisees
Domino’s can just make better pizza and stop the “relaunch” stuff.
So sales slump = new CEO. Got it. But like why not hire someone who actually fixes the app and rewards? Every time I open Domino’s it’s like the deals are never the same.
I saw “loyalty and e-commerce” and immediately thought that means they’re gonna raise prices again. Joe Jordan sounds familiar… isn’t he the one behind the digital stuff? Also Russell Weiner retiring in 2027 like we didn’t already lose years of momentum.
This feels like the board panicking quietly. First-quarter sales were “way below projections” so they swap the CEO on Oct 1, cool cool. Meanwhile franchisees probably still dealing with the same issues and the “internal handoff” sounds like PR. $925k salary too… wonder if they’re gonna put that into better ingredients or just more marketing jargon.