News

Domino’s promotes Lawton to CFO

August 19, 2010

Domino's Pizza has named Michael Lawton as its new executive vice president and chief financial officer. Lawton, 51, is an 11-year veteran of Domino's Pizza, and has a proven track record as the head of its highly successful international business. Lawton succeeds Wendy A. Beck, who has accepted a position as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Norwegian Cruise Lines, in Miami. Beck will remain at Domino's through a transition period, working with Lawton.

"We wish Wendy the very best in her new position, as she embarks on new challenges, and thank her for her many contributions to Domino's,” said J. Patrick Doyle, CEO and president of Domino’s. “We are most fortunate to have Mike Lawton fully prepared to succeed in the important position of CFO. Mike has done an outstanding job of growing our international business, and getting it to a point of both critical mass and ongoing success. Mike is not only a proven general manager, but highly qualified as a financial expert for a public company -- a powerful combination for a great CFO and business partner."

Lawton joined Domino's in 1999 as head of finance for the company's international division. He was named executive vice president of International in October 2004. Under his leadership, the division has driven a retail sales compounded annual growth rate of 12 percent, and has added over 1,100 stores in both existing and new markets around the world. For 13 years prior to Domino's, Lawton was with Gerber Products Company, serving as Gerber's corporate controller, vice president of international finance, senior vice president and chief operator officer of its U.S. operations, and president of its Alima division in Poland.

Lawton began his career as a certified public accountant for Ernst & Young. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in accounting from Michigan State University and an MBA from Grand Valley State University.