Primark founder Arthur Ryan dies aged 83, company confirms

The founder of Primark, Arthur Ryan, has died aged 83, the company has confirmed.

Ryan was born in Dublin, moving to London as a young man to work in tailoring.

On his return to Ireland he continued to work in retail before he was taken on by a man called Garfield Weston, who tasked him with setting up a discount clothing chain.

He opened his first shop - Penneys - in Dublin's Mary Street in 1962. Twelve years later he exported the concept to Britain, where he changed the name to Primark to avoid a legal battle with US JC Penney. 

He was often described as a 'workaholic', completely committed to his work, never seeking fame or celebrity.

Ryan was an intensely private man and was barely known among City types, refusing to giving press interviews and residing in one of Dublin's most secure houses. 

He had a huge fear of kidnap after two colleagues were snatched by the IRA during the Troubles in the 1980s.  

Source: Daily Mail

Powered by NewsAPI.org

Keywords:

Primark • Arthur Ryan • Primark • Arthur Ryan • Dublin • London • Ireland • Retail • W. Garfield Weston • Clothing • Retail • Primark • Dublin • Primark • J. C. Penney • Workaholic • Celebrity • Celebrity • Dublin • Kidnapping • Provisional Irish Republican Army • The Troubles •