Peter Ritchie AO

Peter Ritchie is the man who brought McDonald's to Australia 37 years ago, launching it from a single store in suburban Sydney. Incredibly, he never really thought the company would take off "down under". Under Peter's guidance as Managing Director, then Executive Chairman, it grew to be one of Australia's biggest businesses with 500 stores, 50,000 employees and a turnover approaching A$1.3 billion. Peter's presentations reveal with disarming honesty the inside story of a remarkable entrepreneurial success.
Peter Ritchie trained as an accountant and worked for a firm of Chartered Accountants whilst at university. From 1966-69 he worked in London for the International Wool Secretariat and for a firm of management consultants. Returning to Sydney he managed a property development company before being approached in 1970 to join McDonald’s and train in the United States.
Peter was the first employee of McDonald’s Australia and the first employee of the McDonald’s system outside North America. In 1973, Peter was appointed Managing Director. During the 70s and 80s he played a major role in every aspect of the company’s development from establishing raw product suppliers to the construction of new stores and the development of training programs.
In 1983 and 1991 he was a member of the Board of the US parent company, McDonald’s Corporation, and has been involved in establishing McDonald’s in most of the countries in Asia and the Pacific including Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and New Zealand. He is currently a Board Member of McDonald’s Hong Kong, Malaysia and New Zealand.
In December 1995, Peter announced his retirement from an executive role at McDonald’s Australia after 25 years with the company. Peter was non-executive Chairman of the Board from 1995 until his resignation in December 2001. Peter is a Director of the Seven Network Limited and the University of NSW Foundation.
He holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of NSW and is a Fellow of the Australian Society of CPAs.
On 9 June 2003, Peter was honoured with an Order of Australia award for service to business and industry development in Australia by providing employment opportunities and training for young people, and to the community through corporate, financial and material support for health and educational facilities.

Speaker Topics Include:

Balancing Your Life
Lessons in Entrepreneurship
Looking After Your Customers
Your Staff Are Your Business