eHour Speaker, December 4, 2015
Russell Weiner, Domino’s Pizza
An innovative and creative leader, Russell Weiner was named president of Domino’s USA in October 2014 after serving as chief marketing officer for nearly six years. In his role, Weiner is responsible for marketing, operations, store growth and development, as well as overseeing the Team USA division of corporate-owned stores at Domino’s.
Named Brandweek’s 2010 Marketer of the Year in the restaurant category, Weiner was responsible for the reinvention of Domino’s menu (80 percent of which is new since his arrival at the company), which led to record-setting sales increases beginning in 2010, which continue to this day. Under Weiner’s leadership, Domino’s introduced a new recipe for its traditional pizza, as well as Handmade Pan Pizza, American Legends, Stuffed Cheesy Bread, Specialty Chicken and Parmesan Bread Bites – just to name a few.
The advertising that launched the “new and inspired” pizza recipe was the highest-rated spot ever in the restaurant industry based on more than 10 years of tracking conducted by the Millward Brown agency. Weiner was named one of the 10 Who Made Their Mark in 2010 by Advertising Age, joined by the likes of Betty White and Conan O’Brien.
Domino’s innovation doesn’t just focus on food. Weiner led the creation of the “pizza theater” store design, the development of a new logo for the brand and numerous digital marketing and social media innovations. He also oversaw the creation of the DXP pizza delivery vehicle, as well as marketing support for a number of technology innovations and launches. Weiner also led the development and rollout of an updated Domino’s global brand mission, a platform that was announced to a global audience at the 2014 Worldwide Rally in Las Vegas.
Prior to joining Domino’s in 2008, Weiner led the marketing for Pepsi’s $14 billion North American cola business, overseeing $250 million in advertising and promotional spending. He has both Emmy and Effie award-winning television commercials to his credit, and led the development and launch of Diet Pepsi Max and Pepsi’s largest promotion ever, “Pepsi Stuff.” He was also marketing director for Pepsi Innovation, responsible for the introduction of such products as Pepsi Vanilla, Pepsi Lime, several Starbucks products and packaging innovations. He was named one of Brandweek’s 2008 Top 10 Marketers of the Next Generation and was listed in Advertising Age magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2007.
Weiner earned his M.B.A. 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, New York., Weiner and his wife, Wendy, have three children and currently reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan.