Arthur Ryan
{{Short description|Irish businessman, founder of Primark}}
{{about||the American executive with Prudential Insurance|Arthur F. Ryan|the Australian rules footballer|Arthur Ryan (footballer)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Arthur Ryan
|birth_name = Arthur St. John Ryan
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1935|07|18|df=yes}}
|birth_place = Dublin, Ireland
|death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2019|7|8|1935|07|18}}
|death_place = Dublin, Ireland
|occupation = Businessman
|title = Founder & Chairman of Primark
|years_active= 1962–2019
|nationality = Irish
}}
Arthur St. John Ryan (18 July 1935{{cite news|url=https://www.joe.ie/news/arthur-ryan-founder-penneys-died-age-83-674784|author=Cashin, Rory|title=Arthur Ryan, founder of Penneys, has died at the age of 83|website=Joe.ie|date=8 July 2019|accessdate=13 December 2019}} – 8 July 2019) was an Irish businessman who was the founder, chairman, and chief executive of Primark. The business was founded as Penneys and continues to trade under that name in the Republic of Ireland.
Early life
Arthur Ryan was born the son of a Cork-born insurance clerk in 1935, and went to the Synge Street CBS in Dublin after moving to the city with his family. After emigrating to London, he entered the genteel world of gentlemen's tailoring as a tie buyer at Swan & Edgar. He also worked for London fashion wholesaler Carr & McDonald. From there, he returned to Dublin and a job at Dunnes Stores in Cornelscourt.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tribune.ie/magazine/article/2009/jul/19/profile-arthur-ryan-chief-executive-penneys|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815205738/http://www.tribune.ie/magazine/article/2009/jul/19/profile-arthur-ryan-chief-executive-penneys|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 August 2016|title=Old Domain for the Sunday Tribune Ireland|date=15 August 2016}}
Business career
Ryan opened the first Penneys shop on Mary Street in Dublin in 1969.[http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2006/01/08/story10850.asp Sunday Business Post Article, 2006] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411205145/http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2006/01/08/story10850.asp|date=11 April 2008}} Subsequently, in 1974, he took the model to Britain, initially under the Penneys brand, but following a trademark dispute with the American retailer JC Penney, the shops outside the Republic of Ireland were rebranded as Primark.{{cite web| url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31978D0193:EN:HTML| access-date=9 December 2016| date=23 December 1977| title=78/193/EEC: Commission Decision of 23 December 1977 relating to a proceeding under Article 85 of the EEC Treaty (IV/29.246 – Penneys)| website=Commission of the European Communities}} The major turnaround came in 2005, when Primark acquired a huge portfolio of Littlewoods stores. Meanwhile, close attention to catwalk trends made it chic as well as cheap. It went from being the "shop that nobody admitted going to" to a Mecca for celebrity shoppers. It now accounts for over a third of parent company Associated British Foods' (ABF) operating profits. In 2009, Ryan gave up his day-to-day control of the firm as chief executive but became chairman instead.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/sep/11/primark-founder-arthur-ryan-resigns|title=Primark's chief executive Arthur Ryan steps down after 40 years|author=Wood, Zoe|date=11 September 2009|work=The Guardian|accessdate=13 December 2019}}
Personal life
Arthur St John Ryan was married to the former entertainer (The Swarbriggs/Alma Carroll) and had a daughter Jess Ryan. Ryan additionally had four children from his first marriage, Colin, Barry, Arthur and Alison Ryan. He was an intensely private man, living in one of Dublin's best-protected houses, he never gave interviews and was rarely seen in public without bodyguards. His great fear was kidnap – a real enough threat for Irish retail magnates during the Troubles. In 1981, the IRA snatched department store boss Ben Dunne; two years later, they tried to kidnap Galen Weston, scion of the Canadian family behind Primark's owner, food and retail conglomerate Associated British Foods (ABF). Ryan took no chances. "His daily schedule is kept secret from all but his closest aides."[5]
Ryan's son, Barry, who was 51, died while attempting to save his son and his son's girlfriend from drowning during a freak accident on 30 June 2015. Barry's son and his girlfriend also died during the rescue bid.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/penneys-founder-hails-son-barry-ryan-51-as-a-true-hero-for-sacrificing-his-life-in-brave-rescue-bid-31352653.html|author=Riegel, Ralph|title=Penneys founder hails son Barry Ryan (51) as a 'true hero' for sacrificing his life in brave rescue bid|work=Irish Independent|date=5 July 2015|accessdate=13 December 2019}}
Death
Ryan died of a short illness on 8 July 2019, 10 days before his 84th birthday.{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/primark-founder-arthur-ryan-dies-aged-83-a4185136.html|title=Primark founder Arthur Ryan dies aged 83 following short illness|date=8 July 2019|website=London Evening Standard}}{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/breaking-primark-founder-arthur-ryan-17532255|title=Primark founder Arthur Ryan dead at the aged of 83|author=Davidson, Tom|date=8 July 2019|work=Daily Mirror|accessdate=13 December 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48914059|title=Primark founder Arthur Ryan dies|date=8 July 2019|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=13 December 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cityam.com/primark-founder-arthur-ryan-dies-following-short-illness/|title=Primark founder Arthur Ryan dies following short illness|date=8 July 2019|website=Cityam.com|accessdate=13 December 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/penneys-founder-arthur-ryan-dies-1.3950482|title=Penneys founder Arthur Ryan dies|author=O'Halloran, Barry|work=The Irish Times|accessdate=13 December 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/1150776/primark-arthur-ryan-dead-death-penneys-net-worth|title=Arthur Ryan: Primark founder net worth revealed after death – businessman's huge wealth|author=Hodgkin, Emily|date=8 July 2019|work=Daily Express|accessdate=13 December 2019}}