Keynote Speaker at Nachural Summer Ball 2024

Doug is the Chief Executive Officer of his franchised restaurant company which operates twenty-six McDonald’s restaurants across the West Midlands. Doug joined McDonald’s as a cleaner the day before he left school in 1981 with just 1 ‘O’level and worked his way up in the McDonald’s Corporation. 

He became a McDonald’s franchisee in 2002 and aspired to own two restaurants. He now owns and operates one of McDonald’s largest franchised organisations employing over 2,900 people and contributes over £50M each year to the West Midlands economy. Doug has received numerous ‘McAwards’ including being named one of their ‘Global Franchisees of the Year’ in 2016. 

He has proudly been awarded Honorary Doctorates by both Birmingham City University and Aston University and was named the regional EY Entrepreneur of the year in 2019. He is a Patron of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and mentors many local businesses and young entrepreneurs. Doug is very passionate about using his business success as a force for good to help others both in civic and charitable ways. He is a Deputy Lieutenant in the West Midlands.

 In 2022 he was given a National Honour in the Queen’s last ever Birthday list when he was awarded an MBE in June of 2022 ‘for services to the economy and charity in the West Midlands’. 

Doug dedicates a lot of time to charity work. His inspiration comes from being involved in a car crash at the age of twenty where he was left partially paralysed for three months. He was the Chairman of the Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham for six years, a charity providing a home away from home to families whilst their children are being treated at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. He raised over £10M during his tenure with the charity. 

In September 2023 he was appointed Chairman of a new national charity called the Kids Village which will create a holiday village for sick children and their families on a beautiful site in Lichfield. Doug also supports Birmingham Pride, Sense, Birmingham Hippodrome, 15 Grass Roots football teams, Birmingham Youth Awards, and he is also a Special Adviser at Miss Macaroon. 

Doug is married to Kate and they have five children Sam, Jack, Vicky, Toby and Syd. They also have two wonderful grandchildren, Gabriel and Edie. The Wrights live in Aldridge, some nine miles from Birmingham city centre. They enjoy watching sports, travelling and eating out.