Domino's Pizza vs Wingstop: Founders, CEOs and History
Domino's Pizza was founded in 1960 by Tom Monaghan, James Monaghan and is led by Joseph (Joe) Jordan. Wingstop was founded in 1994 by Antonio Swad and is led by Michael Skipworth.
Company facts
Domino's Pizza
- Founded
- 1960
- Headquarters
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Current CEO
- Joseph (Joe) Jordan
- Employees
- 10,500
Wingstop
- Founded
- 1994
- Headquarters
- Addison, Texas, United States
- Current CEO
- Michael Skipworth
- Employees
- 1,173
Founders
Domino's Pizza
Tom Monaghan
Tom Monaghan co-founded Domino's in 1960 when he and his brother James bought DomiNick's in Ypsilanti, Michigan, with about $900 in borrowed money.
James Monaghan
James Monaghan co-bought DomiNick's with his brother Tom in 1960. Unwilling to give up his postal job for the long hours of the pizza shop, he traded his half of the business to Tom in 1961 in exchange for the store's Volkswagen Beetle, a deal often cited as o…
Wingstop
Antonio Swad
Antonio Swad is a Texas restaurateur who opened the first Wingstop in Garland, Texas in 1994. He gave the shop an aviation theme and a short, wing-focused menu, then began franchising it. He sold Wingstop to Gemini Investors in 2003.
CEOs and their tenures
Domino's Pizza
- Patrick Doyle2010–2018
Former Chief Executive Officer
Doyle's tenure is widely credited with one of the best-known restaurant turnarounds; the stock rose sharply during the 2010s as digital ordering became a core sales channel.
Source - Ritch Allison2018–2022
Former Chief Executive Officer
Under his leadership during the pandemic, Domino's achieved massive same-store sales growth by capitalizing on its highly developed digital ordering and delivery infrastructure.
Source - Russell Weiner2022–2026
Chief Executive Officer (2022-2026); Executive Chairman Designate
Joined Domino's in 2008 as Chief Marketing Officer and helped lead the 2009 Pizza Turnaround. As CEO he oversaw revenue growth to $4.94 billion in FY2025 before handing the role to Joe Jordan on October 1, 2026.
Source - Joe Jordan2026–present
Chief Executive Officer
Inherits a business with slowing U.S. same-store sales and a target of more than 175 net new U.S. stores in 2026.
Source
Wingstop
- Charlie Morrison2012–2022
Chairman and CEO
He transformed Wingstop from a regional chain into a global franchise with thousands of locations, overseeing a massive increase in system-wide sales and brand recognition before departing in 2022.
Source - Alex Kaleida2021–present
Chief Financial Officer
As CFO, she helped sustain strong franchisee unit economics and profitability through periods of severe inflation and macroeconomic consumer pressure.
Source - Michael Skipworth2022–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Under his tenure, digital sales grew to represent a massive majority of system-wide revenue, though the company has more recently faced industry-wide headwinds in same-store sales.
Source
Timeline: Domino's Pizza and Wingstop side by side
1960Domino's Pizza
DomiNick's purchased
Tom and James Monaghan buy a small pizza store in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
1965Domino's Pizza
Renamed Domino's Pizza
The business adopts the Domino's Pizza name as it expands.
1973Domino's Pizza
30-Minute Delivery Guarantee
Domino's introduced its guarantee of delivery within 30 minutes in 1973.
1983Domino's Pizza
First international stores
Domino's opens in Winnipeg, Canada, and Queensland, Australia.
1994Wingstop
Founding
Antonio Swad opens the first Wingstop in Garland, Texas.
1997Wingstop
First franchised restaurant
The first franchised Wingstop location opens, three years after the original restaurant.
1998Domino's Pizza
Bain Capital recapitalization
Tom Monaghan sells a roughly 93% stake to Bain Capital.
2003Wingstop
Sale to Gemini Investors
Swad sells Wingstop to private equity firm Gemini Investors.
2004Domino's Pizza
IPO
Domino's lists on the New York Stock Exchange under DPZ.
2005Wingstop
Lunch service begins
Wingstop begins serving lunch.
2008Domino's Pizza
Pizza Tracker Launched
Domino's launched its online Pizza Tracker in 2008.
2009Domino's Pizza
Pizza Turnaround
The company reformulates its core pizza recipe and admits past quality complaints in national ads.
2009Wingstop
Boneless wings added
Wingstop begins selling boneless products.
2010Domino's Pizza
Patrick Doyle becomes CEO
Patrick Doyle became CEO of Domino's Pizza in 2010. Doyle's tenure is widely credited with one of the best-known restaurant turnarounds; the stock rose sharply during the 2010s as digital ordering became a core sales channel.
2010Wingstop
Roark Capital ownership
Roark Capital acquires Wingstop.
2010Wingstop
First international restaurant
Wingstop opens its first restaurant outside the United States, in Mexico.
2015Wingstop
IPO
Wingstop lists on Nasdaq as WING.
2018Domino's Pizza
Ritch Allison becomes CEO
Ritch Allison became CEO of Domino's Pizza in 2018. Handed over to Russell Weiner in May 2022.
2018Wingstop
London entry
Franchised Wingstop restaurants begin opening in London, United Kingdom.
2021Wingstop
Thighstop announced
On June 21, 2021, Wingstop announces Thighstop, a digital-only restaurant selling chicken thighs.
2022Wingstop
CEO transition
Michael Skipworth succeeds Charlie Morrison as CEO.
2025Domino's Pizza
FY2025 results
$4.94 billion revenue, $601.7 million net income and 776 net new stores.
2025Wingstop
3,000 restaurants
Record 493 net new openings bring the system to 3,056 restaurants at year-end.
2026Domino's Pizza
Joe Jordan becomes CEO
Joe Jordan succeeds Russell Weiner as CEO on October 1, 2026.
2026Wingstop
Club Wingstop launch
National loyalty launch in Q2; restaurant count reaches 3,255 by June 27, 2026.
Acquisitions
Domino's Pizza
- Domino (Taiwan)2021Undisclosed
- Pizza Dominium2020Undisclosed
- Hallo Pizza2017Undisclosed
- Dolly Dimple's2017Undisclosed
Wingstop
- Three franchised restaurants2025$9.2M
- Two franchised restaurants2023$4.4M
- Two franchised restaurants2017$3.9M
Questions about Domino's Pizza vs Wingstop
Who is the CEO of Domino's Pizza, Inc. and Wingstop Inc.?
Domino's Pizza, Inc. is led by Joseph (Joe) Jordan and Wingstop Inc. is led by Michael Skipworth. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Domino's Pizza, Inc. founded vs Wingstop Inc.?
Domino's Pizza, Inc. was founded in 1960 — 34 years before Wingstop Inc., which was founded in 1994. Domino's Pizza, Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Wingstop Inc..
How many employees does Domino's Pizza, Inc. have compared to Wingstop Inc.?
Domino's Pizza, Inc. employs approximately 10,500 people, while Wingstop Inc. employs approximately 1,173. Domino's Pizza, Inc. has the larger workforce at 10,500 employees, compared to Wingstop Inc.'s 1,173. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Domino's Pizza, Inc. and Wingstop Inc. headquartered?
Both Domino's Pizza, Inc. and Wingstop Inc. are headquartered in United States. Their local rules and tax obligations may still differ.
Who founded Domino's Pizza, Inc. and Wingstop Inc.?
Domino's Pizza, Inc. was founded by Tom Monaghan, James Monaghan. Wingstop Inc. was founded by Antonio Swad.
Which company has a longer operating history — Domino's Pizza, Inc. or Wingstop Inc.?
Domino's Pizza, Inc. has been operating for approximately 66 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Wingstop Inc. has been in operation for around 32 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Domino's Pizza vs Wingstop overview