From CMO To President: Taking The Reins At Domino’s Pizza
In October of this year, after serving six years as CMO, Russell Weiner was named President of Domino’s Pizza USA. During his tenure as CMO, Weiner led marketing, brand leadership, and product innovation for the world’s second largest pizza company, and was responsible for helping reinvent 80 percent of the brand’s menu – a change […]
In October of this year, after serving six years as CMO, Russell Weiner was named President of Domino’s Pizza USA.
During his tenure as CMO, Weiner led marketing, brand leadership, and product innovation for the world’s second largest pizza company, and was responsible for helping reinvent 80 percent of the brand’s menu – a change that resulted in record-setting sales in 2010.
He oversaw the creation of Domino’s “pizza theater” store design, the development of its new logo, and numerous digital marketing and social media innovations that have generated more than $8 billion in retail sales.
In 2008, Weiner was named one of Brandweek’s top ten marketers. Two years later, he was awarded Brandweek’s Marketer of the Year in the restaurant category. He also has both Emmy and Effie award-winning television commercials to his credit, and was listed in Advertising Age magazine’s top 40 Under 40 in 2007.
Prior to joining Domino’s, Weiner led the marketing for Pepsi’s $14 billion North American cola business, overseeing $250 million in advertising and promotional spending.
Weiner earned his MBA in marketing and international business from the New York University Stern School of Business in 2001. He received a B.A. in government from the Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences.
A native of Bronx, N.Y., Weiner and his wife, Wendy, and their three children currently reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Russell Weiner
President @ Domino’s USA
- Age: 46
- HQ: Ann Arbor, Michigan
- First Job: Delivering the New York Post
- Apple or Android? Apple
- First Car: Oldsmobile Delta Eighty-Eight
- Hobby: Piano
What mobile device can you not live without?
My car.
Which apps do you use most often for work?
Twitter to keep up with the latest news.
What social media network or website do you frequent most when you’re not working?
MLB At Bat – great for out-of-market baseball fans. (Go Yankees!)
What’s the first thing you check on your phone in the morning?
Admittedly, sales from the day before.
Take me through your typical workday.
No day is typical, which is a good thing!
What has been the most exciting work development during the past year?
Our 2013 sales results, continuing to grow our success when lapping over high numbers from prior years. That makes 5 straight years of positive sales which is not common for our industry, and a great change in momentum from the negative three years prior to my joining Domino’s.
What does your desk look like?
I’d call it ‘inspirational’. Remember what Einstein said, “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”
I have always kept a paper fish tank that my son made me when he was 5.
How many miles have you traveled in the last 12 months?
I currently have about 130,000 miles on Delta…and the most interesting places were India and Australia. Our business model is very different in these markets and there was lots to learn.
What work challenge keeps you up at night?
Keeping good people.
Can you tell us about a campaign or work project you’d like to do over?
I think everything we do could have been done better. Can’t stop pushing.
Tell me about the people who have been most influential in your career.
My dad. He told me at a young age that you spend more time working than you spend with your family – so make sure to love what you do.
What traits does a person need to succeed in your position?
Multitask, be creative, leverage data and hire right!
Can you tell us something about yourself that your team would be surprised to know?
I, at one time, drove a taxi in New York City. Also was a vendor at Yankee Stadium that same year.
Why did you go into marketing?
Something different each day.
What other career would you like to try and why?
Rock star – why do you think??
What’s the last business book you read?
Starts With Why by Simon Sinek; it truly inspired me and my team to make big, meaningful changes in the business.
Outside of your company’s efforts, what ad campaign or video caught your eye recently?
The Nike ad featuring Derek Jeter, very authentic to the brand. And, c’mon, it’s Derek Jeter.
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