In a sudden leadership shake-up, the chief executive of Domino's Pizza Group, Andrew Rennie, has left the company with immediate effect. The unexpected departure comes as the pizza giant grapples with a strategic pivot away from its core business and follows Mr Rennie's own public remarks about the limited growth potential in the UK pizza sector.
Strategic Clash and Saturated Market
The board and Mr Rennie reportedly experienced tensions over the strategic direction of the main pizza business. This conflict was highlighted by Chairman Ian Bull on Tuesday, who stated the board "believes that there are a number of opportunities to drive further growth and value creation in Domino’s core business." This perspective directly contrasts with Mr Rennie's recent comments to the Financial Times, where he suggested the UK pizza market is nearing saturation and lacks potential for "massive growth."
Mr Rennie's exit follows a challenging period for the company. Earlier this month, Domino's revealed that the number of pizzas it sold had dropped over the last quarter, a decline attributed to dampened consumer demand in the face of price inflation.
A New Focus and Interim Leadership
Under Mr Rennie's tenure, which spanned the last two years, Domino's launched a new chicken sub-brand called Chick ‘N’ Dip in September. This move was designed to capitalise on the booming demand for chicken in the UK. The brand has already been introduced in around 200 locations and is planned for a wider, system-wide rollout next year.
Stepping into the role on an interim basis is Nicola Frampton, the company's current Chief Operations Officer. Mr Bull confirmed the board is now focused on "identifying the right CEO to lead the disciplined execution of that growth strategy," a strategy that will also involve a new Chief Financial Officer and a rigorous focus on shareholder returns.
Broader Sector Pressures and Company Performance
The struggles are not unique to Domino's. The wider UK pizza sector is facing significant pressure. Recently, Pizza Hut was forced to close 68 sites after the franchisee operating its UK restaurants entered administration.
This difficult environment is reflected in Domino's financial performance. The company's shares have trended downwards in recent months, resulting in a 14% decline over the past year.
In a departing statement, Andrew Rennie said he felt "privileged to lead the Domino’s Pizza Group business" and highlighted the team's achievements in delivering "strong market share growth through operational excellence, product innovation and a digital transformation."
Interim CEO Nicola Frampton has outlined her priorities, which include strengthening the supply chain, continuing product innovation, and preparing for the launch of a loyalty programme in 2026. She also confirmed the company remains committed to the system-wide launch of Chick ‘N’ Dip next year.
