Doug Wright MBE, a man whose name has become synonymous with McDonald’s in the West Midlands, has announced his retirement from the fast food giant after an extraordinary 44-year career.
Wright, affectionately known throughout the region as Mr McDonald’s, has sold his 26-strong restaurant portfolio in a move that brings to an end one of the most inspiring entrepreneurial journeys in British business. Sixteen of the sites will return to corporate ownership, while the remaining ten will pass into the hands of fellow franchisees.
It’s the closing chapter of a career that began with the most modest of openings: on 1 July 1981, a then-16-year-old Wright took a cleaning job at McDonald’s in Bedford, earning just 93p an hour.
From there, through sheer graft, leadership and vision, Wright rose through the ranks to become one of the company’s most successful UK franchisees. In 2002, after years of service at the corporate level, he realised a lifelong ambition when he was granted his first franchised restaurant. Over the next two decades, he built Wright Restaurants into a regional powerhouse and one of the West Midlands’ largest private employers, with nearly 3,000 staff.
“I joined McDonald’s initially for three weeks,” Wright reflects, “and it taught me life skills. That’s something I hear time and again from employees and their families.”
Indeed, his legacy is not simply in the bricks, mortar and turnover of a 26-site empire, but in the lives it touched — from staff who found a career, to customers who saw McDonald’s become part of their community fabric.
“From the dream of owning one restaurant, the aim became two — and we just kept going from there,” Wright said. “But you have to step off the bus at some point, and my dad always said: ‘Be sure to orchestrate your own exit’.”
That sense of personal agency has characterised Wright’s business philosophy. Even as his empire grew, his hands-on approach never wavered. Colleagues describe a leader who never lost touch with frontline staff and who built a culture more akin to family than fast food chain.
“I will miss the people the most,” he admits. “We’ve always acted as one big family — we’ve celebrated together and grieved together. Along the way, we’ve lost some very decent people.”
But Doug Wright’s contribution goes far beyond the bottom line. Following a life-changing car accident at the age of 20, Wright became determined to use his success as a platform for giving back. Over the years, he has become a towering figure in West Midlands philanthropy.
As chair of the Ronald McDonald House Charity, he helped raise millions of pounds, enabling the facility near Birmingham Children’s Hospital to provide accommodation for nearly 17,000 families with seriously ill children. Through a staff lottery alone, Wright’s team provided 9,500 nights of family stays at the House.
He has also championed countless local initiatives — from grassroots sports to arts programmes and educational projects. His charity work has included support for Marie Curie, the Teenage Cancer Trust, Arrive Alive, and the Teenage Market.
“The thing I am most proud of is how we have made a difference to so many communities and charities where we live and work,” he said. “Our collective community work has been transformational.”
Wright’s contribution to civic life has also seen him take on a number of high-profile roles. He served as a patron and board member of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, as Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands, and — in 2023 — as High Sheriff of the West Midlands, a role he described as “the highlight of my working career”.
He also had the honour of being included in Queen Elizabeth II’s final Honours List in 2022, where he was awarded an MBE for services to business and charity.
Though stepping away from McDonald’s, Wright is not retiring from public life. He remains the chair of Kids’ Village, a pioneering charity building the UK’s first holiday resort designed to provide free breaks for children with critical illnesses and their families.
“In particular, being part of the Chamber was a turning point for me — joining an organisation where you can connect, grow, and meet like-minded people,” he said. “The support I received there helped get Kids’ Village off the ground.”
Sir Andy Street, former Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Doug’s story of rising from humble origins to become the biggest franchisee in the country is one of graft and ingenuity. But more than that, he’s used his success to lift others — through Ronald McDonald House, Kids’ Village, and during his time as High Sheriff. He is the embodiment of the truth that business is a force for good.”
Raj Kandola, acting deputy CEO of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, echoed that sentiment:
“Doug stands as one of the West Midlands’ great business success stories. His contribution to the regional economy is matched only by the impact he’s had on the communities he’s served. We thank him for his tireless service and wish him all the best in this next chapter.”
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Mr McDonald’s bows out: Doug Wright sells 26-restaurant empire after 44 years