Staffing

Buddy's Pizza names new CEO, COO

Buddy's Pizza has named Chris Tussing as its CEO. Provided

August 11, 2023

Buddy's Pizza has named Chris Tussing as its CEO. Tussing previously served as CMO of Marco's Pizza, according to a press release.

"I knew coming in that Buddy's had a rich heritage rooted in high-quality food and hospitality," Tussing said in the press release. "What became apparent soon after joining, was how deep of an emotional bond there is between the brand and our team members and guests." Buddy's employs nearly 1,500 people through its corporately owned stores and sees an employee retention rate well above industry averages. "I love hearing the pride in team members' voices when they tell me they've been here 30-plus years, 20 years or 17 years. There is a passion here not found in many brands."

Tussing has previous experience with Fortune 500 companies like Clorox, Wrigley, Mars and Anheuser-Busch. He'll be responsible for driving enterprise growth for Buddy's, which has 22 locations throughout Michigan.

Tussing has hired Joe Dominiak as COO. In his role as COO, Dominiak, who brings extensive experience with brands like Skyline Chili, Tilted Kilt and Camp Bow Wow, is responsible for driving operational excellence and delivering employee and guest engagement.

"Buddy's set a new standard for pizza 77 years ago, and it's inspiring to see the heart and craft team members put into the product and guest experience every day," Dominiak said in the press release. "I'm excited to work with Chris and the team to help this iconic brand scale successfully."