From teen pizza maker to big cheese

One of the world's most experienced executives at one of the world's most well-known pizza franchises has been made its first Australia-New Zealand female CEO.
 
Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd announced the promotion of Kerri Hayman to Chief Executive Officer, ANZ this week. With more than 36 years in the Domino’s brand, Hayman started out making pizzas as a teenager and this month steps up to the top job in this region.

Hayman became Chief Operating Officer ANZ in 2023, after 14 years working for the brand internationally, including as the Operations Director for UK- listed Domino’s Pizza Group plc and as an award-wining 14 store franchisee in the United States of America. She started her career as a 15-year-old, working as a pizza maker for her brother Don Meij, then a store manager.

Recognised as one of Domino’s International’s highest performing operations leaders, Hayman has held multiple awards including International Supervisor of the Year and Domino’s Woman of the Year, as well as other accolades including overseeing the international record for the most pizzas sold in a day.

Under Hayman’s leadership as Chief Operating Officer ANZ, Domino’s reports that it has delivered the highest customer satisfaction scores and product quality scores (as rated by customers) in more than three years, with improved sales and profitability for franchise partners and corporate stores.

Hayman is a member of Domino’s Pizza International’s Global Operations Council and has established a Global Operations Board for DMP, to share best practice between international markets. In her COO, role she launched the Women in Domino’s grant, which will support seven young female store managers become franchise partners. The programme is now being expanded to develop emerging leaders from store managers to entrepreneurs.

She says, “I grew up in this business and worked alongside so many team members who are now some of our most successful and longest-serving franchise partners.

“My experience as a team member, in operations, and as multi-store owner, has fostered enormous empathy for the rewards and challenges that are an essential part of this business. I believe it has also helped me build credibility with our franchise partners, store managers and team members and now, in this more public facing role, I hope to build that same rapport with our customers, and our shareholders.

“Over the past year our customers have told us our product quality and service has never been better. But our team never rests and – with the new products we will be launching combined with an ongoing focus on product quality and value – I can’t wait to show what we can deliver.”