Updates with more detail on CEO appointment, and background

Feb 11 (Reuters) - Australian franchise operator Domino's Pizza Enterprises DMP.AX on Wednesday named Andrew Gregory, a senior McDonald's MCD.N executive, as its new chief executive officer and managing director.

Gregory has been in the quick-service restaurant sector for more than three decades, and most recently served as McDonald's senior vice president for global franchising, and development and delivery officer in the United States.

The appointment follows a period of turbulence at Domino's, marked by multiple senior exits, declining sales, rising costs and fierce competition that pushed the franchise operator to its first annual loss in fiscal 2025 since going public over two decades ago.

"We are confident he (Gregory) is well placed to lead Domino's through our next phase of performance improvement and growth," Executive Chairman Jack Cowin said.

Gregory will start in his new role by August 5, the franchise operator said in an exchange filing.

Domino's Pizza Enterprises runs the largest master franchise of the U.S.-based Domino's Pizza DPZ.O in 12 countries across Asia, Europe, and Australia and New Zealand.