Nick Wheeler

Businessman Nick Wheeler OBE is living proof that we should never give up on our dreams and aspirations. The owner and founder of the hugely successful shirt brand, Charles Tyrwhitt, he tried his hand at several other businesses before he built the company from humble beginnings into one of the best shirt companies in the world, with 45 stores around the globe.

Born in Ludlow, Shropshire, Wheeler had always wanted to build and run his own business, attempting to run a Christmas tree delivery service, a photograpy venture and bespoke shoe company. When none of these ventures worked out, Wheeler carried on undeterred, and during his second year at University had a light bulb moment when he realised his fellow students were in need of decent but affordable shirts. Wheeler kicked off the business from his Bristol bedsit, and has watched it grow over 33 years into the UK’s largest mail-order shirt business, with shops in the UK, US and France and over 1,300 employees, and the company now also sells accessories, shoes and suits. His business empire now turns over more than £210 million a year, and in 2018 he received an OBE for his services to business and philanthropy.

Married to founder of The White Company, Chrissie Rucker, the couple have made The Sunday Times Rich List. Nick is also an inspirational keynote speaker, who entertains audiences with his story of how self-believe helped him achieve his dreams.