Domino’s picks veteran Joe Jordan as next CEO in planned succession

Domino’s said Joe Jordan will become chief executive officer on October 1, 2026, replacing Russell Weiner, who will retire as CEO and move into the executive chairman role. The company said the handoff is part of a multi-year succession plan, that Jordan, its current chief operating officer and president of Domino’s U.S., will also join the board, and that David Brandon will leave the board after 28 years. Domino’s, which described itself as the largest pizza company in the world, said Jordan has spent nearly 15 years in leadership roles across marketing, U.S. and international operations, technology and franchisee support.

For Chipotle crew members, that kind of move is more than a pizza-chain footnote. It is a test of whether a restaurant brand really rewards people who learn the business from the floor up. Chipotle’s careers page says being part of the crew means learning the skills to grow as a person and a leader, and the company still posts Apprentice jobs, including openings in Rochester, New York. A Brooklyn Apprentice Hourly listing shows a base pay range of $21.00 to $23.36, while a Brooklyn crew job is eligible for digital tips, a reminder that pay still varies by city and role.

Chipotle has built that ladder into its own top job. Scott Boatwright was named chief executive officer in November 2024 after serving as chief operating officer since 2017 and interim CEO since August 2024, and the board said the appointment affirmed its internal succession planning. The company said it promoted 23,000 team members in 2024, that 85% of restaurant management promotions were internal, and that five of 11 regional vice presidents started as crew members. Its careers page now lists potential total rewards of $45,900 for Crew, $73,100 for Apprentice, $93,100 for General Manager and $116,100 for Restaurateur, while field leaders oversee an average of eight restaurants and about $24 million in annual sales.

That is why Domino’s choice lands well beyond Ann Arbor. When a chain elevates a veteran who has already run marketing, operations, technology and franchise support, it reinforces the same message restaurant workers hear when they look at Chipotle’s apprentice and restaurateur path: stay long enough, learn enough and the job can change from a shift to a career. The real test for morale and retention is whether companies keep making that promise visible when the next CEO seat opens up.