Arthur Ryan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur Ryan
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|---|---|
| Born |
Arthur St. John Ryan
18 July 1935 Dublin, Ireland
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| Died | 8 July 2019 (aged 83) Dublin, Ireland
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| Nationality | Irish |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Years active | 1962–2019 |
| Title | Founder & Chairman of Primark |
Arthur St. John Ryan (born July 18, 1935 – died July 8, 2019) was an important Irish businessman. He was the person who started and led the popular clothing store, Primark. In his home country, Ireland, the company is known as Penneys.
Early Life of Arthur Ryan
Arthur Ryan was born in 1935. His father was an insurance clerk from Cork. Arthur moved to Dublin with his family and went to Synge Street CBS school there.
Later, he moved to London. He started working in men's fashion. He bought ties for a store called Swan & Edgar. He also worked for another fashion company, Carr & McDonald. After this, he returned to Dublin. He got a job at Dunnes Stores.
Building the Primark Business
Arthur Ryan opened his very first Penneys shop in Dublin in 1969. This store was on Mary Street. It quickly became popular for its affordable fashion.
In 1974, he decided to expand. He brought his business model to Britain. To avoid legal issues with a US chain called JC Penney, he used a new name: Primark.
A big moment for Primark came in 2005. The company bought many stores from Littlewoods. This helped Primark grow much larger.
Primark also paid close attention to fashion trends. This made the store popular for being both stylish and cheap. It became a favorite place for many shoppers. Today, Primark makes a large part of the profits for its parent company, Associated British Foods (ABF).
In 2009, Arthur Ryan stepped back from his daily role as chief executive. However, he remained involved. He became the chairman of the company.
Arthur Ryan's Personal Life
Arthur St. John Ryan was married to Alma Carroll, who was an entertainer. They had a daughter named Jess Ryan. Arthur also had four children from his first marriage: Colin, Barry, Arthur, and Alison.
He was a very private person. He lived in a well-protected house in Dublin. He rarely gave interviews and was not often seen in public without bodyguards. He kept his daily schedule a secret from most people.
Death
Arthur Ryan passed away on July 8, 2019. He was 83 years old. His death happened just 10 days before his 84th birthday.
