“The demands on Jeff through Covid have been considerable and were a factor in his decision to retire as Group CEO. His endurance and resilience during this period, which included not being able to see his US-based family, have been amazing.”

Adams’ successor, Doug Jones, has spent the past 14 years with Massmart Group, which is majority owned by Walmart, and sits in a market leading position in wholesale food, liquor, home improvement and general merchandise in South Africa.

Jones will join Metcash on February 1, 2022, and will work with Adams on facilitating a smooth transition.

“Doug’s extensive and distinguished international experience across wholesale, retail and e-commerce markets made him the standout candidate to succeed Jeff,” Murray said.

“He is passionate about the success of independent retailers and we are looking forward to him joining us and taking the company forward.”

Domino’s franchisee appointed CEO

Domino’s Australia/New Zealand boss Nick Knight is leaving the pizza firm after 20 years and Domino’s new CEO comes to the role with 30 years experience with the brand.

Domino’s veteran, multi-award winner and current franchisee, David Burness, steps into Knight’s shoes and will transition into the role over the next two weeks.

Burness started as a delivery driver for then Silvio’s Dial-A-Pizza in 1991 while studying at university, and when the Domino’s brand was acquired became a franchise consultant. He was chief operating officer for Domino’s Netherlands in between two spells building multi-unit franchise businesses.

Burness and his wife Melissa own seven stores on the Sunshine Coast.

The new role as CEO gives him a bigger platform to help build franchisee success.

He said: “I am passionate about continuing to grow the sales, profitability and store footprints of our franchisees. I have seen and demonstrated the value of fortressing our territories, and Project Ignite will be the first important step I implement in building out our 1200 store target.

“For more than 25 years I have opened stores here and in opportunity markets, served as a franchisee and an international operations manager, delivered high quality meals and served local community groups.

“But more importantly, I’m proudest that I’ve mentored and supported at least 10 store managers who have ultimately become successful franchisees themselves – providing opportunities to young people who are looking for a part-time job, or even a career, motivates me every day.”

Nick Knight has led the Australian/New Zealand business since 2015.

He said “I’ve always considered myself a custodian of this brand, one whose job is to ultimately hand over this business in a stronger position to the next custodian.

“After two decades, I’m confident I’m doing that: with the strategy, the tools, and the team that will deliver on the next decade and beyond.”

The news of Knight’s departure comes as Domino’s Pizza Enterprises announces a restructure, giving a dual focus to its Asia-Pacific and European businesses.

MySale taps new CEO on road to ASX listing

Online marketplace operator MySale has named a new CEO as it continues to work towards a potential listing on the ASX. 

Kalman Polak, pictured above, spent a decade with Catch Group, most recently as head of marketplace, and for the past 10 months has worked with MySale as chief commercial officer on a consulting basis. He will take over from Carl Jackson who joins the company’s board as executive chairman. 

In a statement, the company said Jackson will remain actively involved in the business, “focused on managing shareholder and other key stakeholder relationships and supporting Kalman who will take over the running of all MySale’s day-to-day operations and the implementation of strategy”. 

Polak said he believes there is “a very clear opportunity to deliver rapid growth” and for MySale – which owns OzSale and NZSale – to become the pre-eminent off-price marketplace platform in the region.

Jackson has been CEO of MySale for 12 years, during which time he secured the recapitalisation, restructuring and repositioning of MySale through the company’s ‘ANZ First’ strategy. 

Charles Butler, who is currently the non-executive chairman, will remain on the board as a senior independent director. More independent directors are being evaluated to join the board to reflect MySale’s core focus on its next stage of growth in the Australia-New Zealand region, which includes evaluating a listing on the ASX. 

Butler said Polak’s extensive digital experience, having spent over a decade as an executive with the Catch Group, will be transformational for MySale. 

The appointment announcement coincided with the release of MySale’s third-quarter results which included revenue growth of over 1000 per cent during the period. Underlying EBITDA was $4.2 million, compared with a $2.7 million loss in the corresponding period last year.