A McDonald's franchisee who famously started with the company as a teenaged cleaner has announced his retirement from the restaurant chain.
Doug Wright has built up his portfolio of fast-food restaurants to 26 sites across the West Midlands.
After 44 years, he is now returning 16 venues to the company while the remaining ten will be sold to other franchise operators.
It brings to an end a remarkable story which began in July 1981 when, at the age of 16, Mr Wright took his first job as a cleaner at McDonald's in Bedford on a wage of 93p per hour.
He climbed the ranks within the corporation before fulfilling a dream in 2002 by being granted his first franchise restaurant.
Over the next two decades, his business Wright Restaurants grew into one of the West Midlands' biggest employers with nearly 3,000 staff across the 26 sites.
He has also won several awards including the Fred L Turner Golden Arch award which is said to be the highest accolade in the global McDonald's network.
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His work was nationally recognised when he was awarded an MBE in the Queen's final honours list in 2022 for his contribution to business and charities in the West Midlands.
Mr Wright, affectionately known as Mr McDonald's, said: "I'm very proud of the business we've created and what it has contributed to the West Midlands economy.
"I will miss the people - we have always acted as one big family. We've celebrated proud moments together and also grieved collectively because along the way we have lost some very decent people.
"I joined McDonald's initially for three weeks and it taught me life skills. Something I hear time after time from both employees and their families.
"From getting the opportunity to own one restaurant, the dream was then to get to two and we just kept going from there. But you have to step off the bus at some stage and my dad always said: ‘Be sure to orchestrate your own exit'."
Outside of his business endeavours, Mr Wright has also done a lot of work with charities, inspired after he was involved in a life-changing car accident at the age of 20.
As chairman of Ronald McDonald House Charity, he helped to raise millions which enabled the facility to house nearly 17,000 families of children under care at nearby Birmingham Children's Hospital.
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He has also sponsored and supported hundreds of initiatives in the local community from sports clubs to arts and educational projects.
"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 and inspiring.
"One of the highlights has been that, through the staff lottery, we've been able to provide 9,500 nights for families to stay at Ronald McDonald House as well as supporting the likes of Marie Curie, the Teenage Cancer Trust and Arrive Alive."
He is also a long-standing patron and former board member of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and a Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands.
Mr Wright recently completed a one-year term as High Sheriff of the West Midlands which he lists as "the highlight of my working career" and through which he met various members of the Royal Family when they visited the region.
He will remain as chairman of Kids' Village, a charity which is building a holiday resort near Lichfield offering free breaks for critically ill children and their families.
Former West Midlands Mayor Sir Andy Street said: "The news that Doug Wright has sold his McDonald's franchises should be an inspiration for all budding entrepreneurs across the region.
"Doug's story of rising from humble origins to become the biggest franchisee in the country is one of graft and ingenuity and is an example to us all.
"Moreover, he's used his success in business to help those less fortunate than him. Doug is therefore the embodiment of the truth that business is a force for good."
Raj Kandola, acting deputy chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, added: "Doug stands as one of the West Midlands' great business success stories.
"His success with McDonald's has not only contributed significantly to our regional economy but also created a lasting impact in the communities he's served.
"His commitment to giving back has been evident through initiatives like Ronald McDonald House and Kids' Village which we've been proud to support at the chamber.
"On behalf of everyone at the chamber, I extend our heartfelt thanks and congratulations to Doug for his contribution to the local business community. We wish him every success in this next chapter."