Ian Wright is a senior management adviser, speaker and pundit. He has spent more than four decades working at the point where business and politics meet. He was responsible for building the reputation of Diageo Plc – to become Britain’s Most Admired Company – and for leading the Food & Drink Federation – to become the nation’s most effective representative organisation. Today he distills that experience into strategic counsel and commentary for businesses and audiences large and small.
His career has included the executive committee of one of the world’s Top 50 companies and working in a laundry to pay the bills at university. In between, he was the most junior member of staff at (then) Britain’s newest political party for 40 years, he built the Midland’s largest communications consultancy, was an adviser to Paddy Ashdown, Menzies Campbell and Nick Clegg as Leaders of the Liberal Democrats and was Chief Executive – during Covid and Brexit – of the Food & Drink Federation (FDF), the body which represents the UK’s largest and most important manufacturing industry.
Early career
After state school in Maidenhead in the mid 1970s Ian won a place at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. While there he spent a sabbatical year as President of the Cambridge Student Union. He has a MA (Hons) in history. He was a political organiser for the Social Democratic Party (1981–85) before becoming a consultant. In 1994, he joined The Boots Company where he was Director of Communications at Boots The Chemist from 1997–2000.
He then spent 14 years at Diageo plc, the world’s leading premium drinks business. There, in addition to managing its global corporate affairs agenda, he led the company’s efforts to embed the concept of responsible drinking as a cornerstone of its license to operate in more than 150 countries. He also undertook the work which brought an amicable and equitable settlement to Diageo’s thalidomide legacy.
More recently
From 2015–2022, Ian was Chief Executive of the Food & Drink Federation – the membership body for food manufacturers and producers. He steered the organisation through Brexit and Covid, increasing its membership from 180 to 1100 companies and raising its public and Government profile.
In 2022, he struck out on a portfolio career which includes advising, writing and broadcasting, podcasting, public speaking and a number of non-executive roles.
Ian received the CBE for political and public service in 2015.
NED and public appointments
Ian Wright is an experienced NED. He chairs the board of start-up tech business DeLux Blockchain and is an investor/advisor at The Work Crowd. He is also an independent NED at Food & Drink North East. Previous appointments have included readying businesses for sale – notably as Deputy Chair of Hume Brophy in the run up to its sale to North American group Penta and NED at Champolion ahead of its sale to Instinctif Partners.
DeLux is the first and only infrastructure (PAAS) for Spirits and Whisky built by industry leaders which enable producers meeting the new rules and regulations such as Sustainability Reporting, Digital Product Passports, Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, while providing consumers with reliable product information.
Ian Wright has held a succession of senior public service appointments. He is Co-Chair of the UK Food & Drink Export Council – a partnership between His Majesty’s Government and the food and drink industry. Working with the Department of Business & Trade, the FDEC has the mission to turbocharge the nation’s food and drink exports. Before taking up this appointment, Ian served as Chair of the Food & Drink Sector Council – DEFRA’s chief policy advisory body for food and farming. He was also a member of the UK Trade & Agriculture Commission, and has led Cabinet Office efficiency reviews on the Government Communications Service, Defence Equipment & Supply and the Porton Down Research Establishment.
