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Dave Brandon

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Dave Brandon
Brandon in 2011
Born
David Allen Brandon[1]

(1952-05-15) May 15, 1952 (age 72)[2]
Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Michigan
Occupation(s)Chairman, Domino's Pizza
EmployerDomino's Pizza
TitleChairman of Domino's Pizza
TermMarch 1999 – Present
PredecessorThomas Monaghan
Political partyRepublican
Board member ofDomino's Pizza, Inc.
SpouseJan
Children6

David Allen Brandon (born May 15, 1952) is an American businessman. He is the former chief executive officer of Toys "R" Us.[3]

From 1999 to 2009, he served as the president and chief executive officer of Domino's, and from 2010 to 2014, he was the athletic director at the University of Michigan. Brandon took over Domino's in March 1999 when founder Tom Monaghan sold it to the investment group Bain Capital.[4] Prior to Domino's, he was the CEO of Valassis Communications. He is also a former regent of the University of Michigan and former football player.

Education

Brandon graduated with a bachelor's degree and teaching certificate from the University of Michigan in 1974. While in Ann Arbor, he was a back-up defensive end on the university's football team, under the leadership of Bo Schembechler.[5]

Brandon has honorary doctorate degrees from Walsh College,[6] Schoolcraft College, Lawrence Technological University, Cleary College, Central Michigan University,[7] and Albion College.

On May 9, 2009, David received his honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Albion College during the college's commencement ceremonies, in Albion, Michigan. He also delivered a commencement address to the 2009 graduating class[8] and finished his address by giving a graduation present to each of the graduates. Taped to the bottom of each of their seats was a coupon for a free pizza and a soda.[9]

Valassis

Brandon began working for Valassis in 1979 at age 27. Brandon described moving from Procter & Gamble to Valassis, then a small, family-owned coupon company, as a "culture shock."[10] Over 20 years, Brandon rose in the company's ranks. He was promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer of Valassis in 1986, then to chief executive officer in 1989.[11]

During his tenure as CEO, Brandon organized Valassis's initial public offering in 1992 at $11.34 per share.[12] Fortune selected Valassis as one of the 100 best companies to work for in 1997, 1998, and 1999.[13][14]

Domino's

Brandon became the chief executive officer of Domino's Pizza in March 1999 after its founder, Thomas Monaghan, sold his shares of the pizza chain to Bain Capital in order to start Ave Maria University.[15]

Brandon led Domino's to its initial public offering in 2004 at $14 per share, raising $337 million.[16] Under Brandon's direction, Domino's introduced the first pizza tracker,[17] and added desserts[18] and sub sandwiches[19] to its menu. To promote the new products, Brandon appeared on a national TV commercial to burn a cease-and-desist letter from Subway.[20] In 2009, Domino's changed its core pizza recipe in a move that Brandon called the "biggest product introduction we've done since… well, pizza."[21] Over the course of Brandon's tenure, Bain received a 500% return on its initial investment.[22] By December 31, 2009, around when Brandon left for the University of Michigan, the stock price had fallen to $8.38.[23]

Politics

Brandon was elected to the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan in 1998, as a member of the Republican Party. In the November 2006 election, he lost his reelection bid to Democrat Julia Donovan Darlow.[24] His term expired December 31, 2006.

Brandon has donated to several Republican campaigns and conservative causes up until 2010.[25]

Television

On May 5, 2005, Brandon appeared on the third edition of Donald Trump's The Apprentice as part of the finale CEO interview panel.[26] In an advertisement that first aired on January 21, 2009, David starred by "oven baking" a cease and desist order from Subway. He was seen putting the letter in a pizza oven, and the letter caught on fire. Subway had sent the letter to Domino's to stop advertisements for their new oven baked sandwiches that noted a 2 to 1 advantage over Subway's subs in an independent taste test.[27][28]

University of Michigan athletic director

On January 5, 2010, Brandon was named athletic director at the University of Michigan, succeeding Bill Martin.[29] University President Mary Sue Coleman said she chose Brandon because she believed his financial management experience would serve the department well as it grew larger and increasingly complex.[30] Soon after arriving, Brandon established a marketing department, which began investing in resources for athletes and established a student loyalty program. Within a few years, Brandon began returning surpluses in the hundreds of millions of dollars, which the university used for a number of major facilities improvements.[31] An opinion editorial in the Detroit News credited Brandon with raising academic standards for athletes and bringing in more counseling and tutoring resources for athletes.[32]

Michigan Athletics, under Brandon's leadership, raised student season ticket prices amid a slump in student attendance nationally,[33] which drew scrutiny from student government officials after roughly a third fewer students bought season tickets.[34]

On September 30, 2014, a graduate student posted a petition on the website of the University's Central Student Government asking that Brandon be fired. By midnight of October 1, the petition had grown to over 10,000 signatures.[35] After Brandon revealed that Michigan quarterback Shane Morris played after exhibiting symptoms of a concussion, hundreds of students gathered at the home of University President Mark Schlissel calling for changes in the leadership of Michigan Athletics. Brandon resigned from the position on October 31, 2014.[36]

USA Today described Brandon's tenure as the University of Michigan's athletic director as "peculiar and unsuccessful."[37]

Toys "R" Us

Toys "R" Us announced that Brandon would succeed Antonio Urcelay as CEO on June 2, 2015.[38] Brandon was chosen for his track record of leading two private companies to their IPOs.[39] In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Brandon acknowledged that the owners of Toys R Us (Bain Capital and Vornado Realty Trust) would seek to exit the business, but emphasized the necessity of improving the company's performance: "The focus now is on execution, performance and growth. … The company needs to put itself in a position where it can compete globally."[3]

On May 14, 2018, Brandon resigned as CEO of Toys "R" Us. He earned $11.25 million in compensation with the company in 2017.[40]

Bankruptcy

On September 19, 2017, Toys "R" Us filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

In a U.S Bankruptcy Court filing on March 15, 2018, the company determined that the best way to maximize their recoveries would be to liquidate the existing inventory. In response to the decision, Brandon explained "Toys R Us found itself in serious default on our financing covenants." Earnings following Christmas 2017 were about half of what the company typically earns in a normal year.[41]

DTE Energy

Brandon sits on the Board of Directors for Detroit Edison as the Finance, Organization & Compensation and Public Policy and Responsibility Committees.[42]

References

  1. ^ "Domino's Pizza - Investors - Biography". phx.corporate-ir.net. Retrieved May 26, 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ Lawrence Kestenbaum. "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Brandon".
  3. ^ a b Kapner, Suzanne (June 2, 2015). "Toys 'R' Us Names IPO Veteran David Brandon as Its Next CEO". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  4. ^ "Domino's Pizza - Investors - Board of Directors". Archived from the original on January 8, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2006.
  5. ^ "University of Michigan Regent Emeritus David A. Brandon" Archived 2006-10-12 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ "Walsh Journal"[permanent dead link‍], Walsh College, Fall, 2007.
  7. ^ David Brandon for UM Regent Archived 2006-07-11 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Webber, Jake. "Holocaust Survivor, Domino's CEO Address Grads at Albion College Commencement" Archived 2010-05-28 at the Wayback Machine, Albion College - College News, May 1, 2009
  9. ^ "Albion Celebrates Commencement 2009 Archived 2010-05-29 at the Wayback Machine, Albion College - College News, May 9, 2009.
  10. ^ "The Change Guy: A Conversation with David Brandon". The CEO Advantage Journal. January 20, 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  11. ^ "Executive Profile: David A. Brandon". Bloomberg Business. Bloomberg Media. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  12. ^ "Valassis Investor - Investor FAQs". investors.valassis.com. Retrieved May 14, 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  13. ^ "1998 - Great Place to Work Institute". www.greatplacetowork.net. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  14. ^ "Valassis Investor - Press Releases". investors.valassis.com. Retrieved May 14, 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  15. ^ Brook, Pete (April 4, 2014). "Inside the Isolated Catholic Town Built by the Founder of Domino's". WIRED. Conde Naste. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  16. ^ "Domino's IPO at $14 a share, below targets; stock falters". USA TODAY. Associated Press. July 13, 2004. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  17. ^ Horovitz, Bruce (July 31, 2009). "Tracking deliveries of all kinds is on everyone's radar". USA TODAY. Gannett Media. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  18. ^ Sage, Alexandria (August 3, 2009). "Domino's Pizza adds chocolate cake to expand menu". Reuters. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  19. ^ Oches, Sam (August 2010). "The Many Acts of Domino's Pizza". QSR Magazine. Food News Media. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  20. ^ Murray, Stefanie (January 22, 2009). "David Brandon of Domino's Pizza stars in TV commercial "burning" legal letter from Subway". MLive.com. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  21. ^ Bomey, Nathan (December 16, 2009). "Ann Arbor's Domino's Pizza changes core pizza recipe". The Ann Arbor News. Booth Newspapers. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  22. ^ Healy, Beth (January 29, 2012). "Domino's delivered for Bain". The Boston Globe. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  23. ^ "NYSE: DPZ". Google Finance. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  24. ^ "Election changes stadium dynamic". Detroit Free Press. November 9, 2006.
  25. ^ "Donor Lookup: David Brandon". OpenSecrets.
  26. ^ "The Apprentice, Season 3, Episode 15 Recap" Archived 2009-03-28 at the Wayback Machine. NBC, May 5, 2005.
  27. ^ Murray, Stefanie. "David Brandon of Domino's Pizza stars in TV commercial "burning" legal letter from Subway", Ann Arbor News, January 22, 2009.
  28. ^ "Domino's Responds to Subway's Cease-and-Desist Letter", Chain Leader, January 22, 2009.
  29. ^ "David Brandon officially introduced as University's next athletic director". The Michigan Daily. January 5, 2010.
  30. ^ Swanson, Kyle (January 5, 2010). "David Brandon officially introduced as University's next athletic director". Michigan Daily. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  31. ^ Jesse, David (October 31, 2014). "Dave Brandon out at U-M: What happened and what's next?". Detroit Free Press. Gannett Company. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  32. ^ "Dave Brandon served the University of Michigan well". The Detroit News. Digital First Media. November 3, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  33. ^ "Michigan football projecting student attendance at 13-14,000 for 2014, down considerably from last season". MLive.com. May 29, 2014.
  34. ^ "Athletic Director Dave Brandon discusses ticket policies with CSG". The Michigan Daily. April 8, 2014.
  35. ^ "A Petition to Relieve Mr. David Brandon from his Duties as Athletic Director". UPetition. Archived from the original on September 30, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  36. ^ Jesse, David (October 1, 2014). "U-M students call for AD Dave Brandon's job at rally". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  37. ^ Bomey, Nathan (March 15, 2018). "Toys R Us liquidation marks bitter end for CEO David Brandon". USA Today. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  38. ^ "Toys"R"Us, Inc. Names David A. Brandon Chairman and CEO, Succeeding Antonio Urcelay upon His Retirement | Business Wire". www.businesswire.com. June 2, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  39. ^ Shea, Bill (June 3, 2015). "Crain's Detroit Business". Crain Communications.
  40. ^ Frank, Annalise (May 11, 2018). "CEO David Brandon, executives to leave Toys 'R' Us today". Crain Communications. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  41. ^ "Toys R Us files for liquidation, likely spelling its end in the U.S." USA TODAY. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  42. ^ "Board of Directors | DTE Energy". www.dteenergy.com. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
Business positions
Preceded by
Antonio Urcelay
 Chairman & CEO of Toys "R" Us
July 2015 – May 2018 		Succeeded by
Vacant
Preceded by Chairman & CEO of Domino's
March 1999 – Present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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