Merrill PereyraPROFILE

Merrill Pereyra is a strategic and performance-focused executive with 25+ years of innovative, energetic leadership in the Middle East, South Pacific, Australia and Asia. He is specifically renowned for his expertise in leveraging global resources, capabilities and relationships to gain advantage in growing brands in new countries.

Merrill is a CEO of the MAP Group Indonesia, involved predominately within the food-retailing arm of the business. MAP is a listed company and currently ranks 23rd in Forbes Indonesia’s top 40 companies. As a retail conglomerate, MAP Indonesia has more than 1400 stores across 50 Indonesian cities and employs over 18,000 people in the region. As a Director, Merrill heads Domino’s Indonesia and is responsible for overseeing the market operations and business development in Indonesia. His responsibilities entail strategic consulting which includes operations, marketing, finance, supply chain and new business development.

Merrill possesses a successful track record in setting up new businesses in 6 countries ranging from the Middle East and Asia, to the South Pacific. He is credited for building the McDonald’s Pacific business from zero to $65 Million over a period of 10 years with a net income in excess of 12% of sales.

During his 23 years with McDonald’s, Merrill was instrumental in developing and executing a successful 5-year strategic business plan in Asia and the South Pacific, that included new product development and setting of marketing budgets and liaisons with advertising agencies, to ensure that the McDonald’s brand was well established. He also developed and implemented a robust program for fast tracking high potential employees to Managing Directors and Function Leaders, and ensured that the McDonald’s Corporation has a process for Talent Management in the Developmental Licensee countries.

In 2001, Merrill was recognized for building the overall McDonald’s Pacific Island business from 0% to 12% net income return and was presented with the prestigious President’s Award, which is presented annually to the most outstanding Corporate Employee in the country.

In 2011, Merrill joined hands with Healthy Habits, the number one sandwich bar and healthy fast food brand that has been in Australia for more than 20 years. And within 18 months, he was able to complete an entire market and strategic review of the business and was instrumental in creating a totally revised and disciplined strategic platform and “go to market strategy”. This involved the comprehensive revaluation of the business model, menu, supply chain, operations, training systems, brand, and consumer segmentation which gave a turnaround of 6% in comparable sales and a reduction of 65% in losses.

Merrill has successfully participated in several Executive Leadership Programs and Courses at the Thunderbird University USA, INSEAD China , Wharton USA and Harvard USA. He has served in the Executive Board of Ronald McDonald House Charities (2005-2007), Advisory Board, McDonald’s Fiji and Tahiti (2006-2010) and as a member of the Executive Steering Committee Dymocks Children’s Charity (2011-2013).

Merrill is also the author of ‘Expand Your Brand’, a book that provides invaluable knowledge and strategies to grow any business confidently and successfully.

Twitter: @permc www.merrillpereyra.com