Domino’s Pizza Enterprises has named Merrill Pereyra as the new CEO for Australia and New Zealand.
Pereyra has worked in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) sector for more than 30 years.
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Since 2019, he has been managing director of Pizza Hut in India for Yum! Brands, where he led changes that improved sales performance and reduced store payback periods by half.
He has also held regional leadership positions with McDonald’s and was CEO of Domino’s Pizza Indonesia. He also served as executive director and restaurants chief executive at QSR Brands, the Yum! Brands franchisee for KFC and Pizza Hut.
On the other hand, Domino’s Pizza appointed George Saoud as the group chief operating officer (COO) with immediate effect. Saoud was serving as group chief financial officer (CFO), a role he took up on 1 July 2025.
In addition to finance, strategy and capital management, his new responsibilities will include technology and procurement and supply chain.
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By GlobalDataThe company said the combined COO and CFO remit is intended to support operational performance, cost management and sustainable growth across its global operations.
It added that the appointments align with its focus on strengthening operational leadership and progressing turnaround priorities.
Domino’s Pizza Enterprises executive chairman Jack Cowin said: “We are delighted to appoint an experienced industry executive of Merrill’s calibre to the key ANZ market for our company.
“Merrill has a track record of building franchise relationships, growing same-store sales and unit economics to return to network expansion – the board is confident he will work closely with our franchise partners to improve our business performance.
“George is an experienced business leader who will lead the critical elements of Domino’s strategy across our international operations.”
The company board added that after the departure of Mark van Dyck, the process to appoint a permanent group CEO is “progressing well”.
