Jay Wright is CEO and co-owner of Virgin Wines, a role he has held for more than a decade, pairing high expectations with a relaxed, sociable workplace culture. Alongside running the company, he also serves as its Chief Marketing Officer, is Vice Chairman of Lincoln City Football Club, and co-owns a canal-side pub in Lancashire.
Wright has reshaped Virgin Wines by focusing on removing the barriers that make wine buying feel intimidating to everyday customers. He led a rework of how the company categorizes its products, favoring approachable, plain-language descriptions over traditional wine jargon, and expanded the business from a wine specialist into a broader drinks retailer offering wine, spirits, and beer.
That strategy has translated into strong growth, with turnover and trading profit both climbing sharply and tens of thousands of new customers added in a single year. Wright's contribution to the drinks industry was recognized when he became the youngest ever winner of the Drinks Business "Man of the Year" award, in 2013.
