Arthur Ryan Wiki, Bio, Age, Wife, Kids, Cause of Death, Net Worth, Family, Obituary, Funeral, Nationality and Primark
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Arthur Ryan Biography – Arthur Ryan Wiki
Arthur Ryan born Arthur St. John Ryan, was an Irish businessman who was the founder, chairman, and chief executive of Primark.
Ryan opened the first Penneys store on Dublin’s Mary Street in 1969 on behalf of The Weston Family. The brand, which sold clothing at more affordable prices than other fashion stores at the time, quickly grew, and Primark expanded into the UK in the 1970s. The company now boasts more than 370 stores across Europe and the US. Ryan stepped down as managing director of Penneys/Primark in 2009, moving to the role of chairman.
In 2011, Dublin Institute of Technology conferred an Honorary Doctorate on Arthur Ryan for his outstanding contribution to business and employment in Ireland and globally.
Arthur Ryan Age
He was born in July 1935 in Dublin, Ireland. He died on 8 July 2019 aged 83.
Arthur Ryan Wife
He was married to his wife Alma Carroll since 1978.
Arthur Ryan Children
Arthur Ryan and his wife Alma Carroll had a daughter, Jess Ryan. He had four other children from a previous marriage. Ryan’s son, Barry, who was 51, died while attempting to save his son, Barry Davis Ryan, and his son’s girlfriend, Niamh O’Connor, from drowning during a freak accident on 30 June 2015. Barry’s son and his girlfriend also died during the rescue bid.
Arthur Ryan Death
Arthur Ryan died on 8 July 2019 at the age of 83 following a short illness. Primark chief executive Paul Marchant paid tribute to Arthur Ryan in a statement:
“I was fortunate to work closely with him and experience first-hand his sharp mind and innovative thinking. Over the years we developed a very strong friendship, which I will always value and cherish.
“The company’s directors and employees, as well as those that worked with him over the years are deeply saddened by his loss.”
“Arthur Ryan was a retail pioneer and a man of remarkable business acumen. At Primark, we feel very fortunate to have experienced up close his drive and passion for the business as well as his integrity, warmth and wonderful sense of humour. He was very generous in so many ways. He devoted a lot of his time to advise and connect people and he quietly supported people in the background in times of need.
“Despite his many talents and successes in life, Arthur always modelled great humility. He said that we should ‘remember who we are, challenge ourselves to be the best we can be, push the boundaries all the time and never be complacent or satisfied’.
“His words remain guiding principles at Primark today. Throughout his entire career he remained strongly connected to the customer and regularly visited the stores and walked the shop floors. Equally, he placed great importance on talent development and influenced so many careers, which remains instilled in Primark’s culture today. Arthur Ryan’s legacy will continue to live on in the business that he founded and built. He will be hugely missed by his Primark family.”
CEO of Associated British Foods, George Weston, also paid tribute to Ryan: “We will all greatly miss his larger than life presence, his sharp wit and his friendship.
“Arthur Ryan will be remembered as one of the great giants of retailing. When my grandfather, Garfield Weston and uncle Galen Weston recruited Arthur to run Penneys in 1969 with only one store in Dublin, they knew they were hiring an exceptional trader.
“But what three generations of Westons learnt over the following decades was that Arthur was also a great leader and business builder, driven every day by a relentless desire to delight his customers,” he said.
“Arthur Ryan made fashion accessible to all and his legacy looms large. He built a phenomenal world-class retailer, the foundations of which will always belong to Ireland.”
Arthur Ryan Cause of Death
Arthur Ryan’s died after a short illness. The illness was not disclosed.
Arthur Ryan Net Worth
Primark, the fashion retailer Arthur Ryan founded is part of the UK listed company Associated British Foods (ABF). It has 370 stores in 12 countries and annual revenues of more than €8 billion.
Arthur Ryan Nationality
He was of Irish nationality.