Ralph Halpern

Sir Ralph Halpern
Born Ralph Mark Halpern
October 1938 (age 79–80)
Austria
Nationality British
Occupation former CEO, Burton Group
Known for Founder of Topshop
Term 1978-1991
Successor John Hoerner
Spouse(s) Two, including Laura Blume

Sir Ralph Mark Halpern (born October 1938) is an Austrian-born British businessman, the former chief executive officer (CEO) of Burton Group, and the founder of Topshop.

Early life

Ralph Halpern was born in October 1938.[1] He was born in Austria, and emigrated to England with his Jewish parents fled from the Nazis in the 1930s, losing their fortune.[2][3]

Career

Halpern joined Burton Group as a management trainee in 1961, rising to chief executive in 1978. He turned it into a retail empire that dominated the British high street, with 2,800 stores and employing more than 60,000 people. With brands including Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Debenhams, Principles, Racing Green and Evans, it was worth £1.8bn when Halpern was ousted by the board in 1991.[4] Halpern founded Top Shop.[2]

Personal life

Halpern was linked by the British tabloids to the teenage model Fiona Wright, leading to a "five times a night" headline.[3]

In 2000, Halpern became a father, aged 61, with his second wife, Laura Blume.[5][6]

References

  1. ↑ "Ralph HALPERN - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". Beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  2. 1 2 "Top shopper's hideaway". Telegraph. 2004-09-04. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  3. 1 2 Nigel Cope. "Debenhams to be spun off as Burton regroups | Business | News". The Independent. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  4. ↑ Charlotte Hardie (2011-11-11). "The Burton Group family tree | Analysis". Retail Week. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  5. ↑ Dennis Barker. "Sir Ralph Halpern a father at 61years of age | Global". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  6. ↑ "Five-Times-a-Night Burton's Boss Has a Baby Son at 61; SIR RALPH STARTS A NEW FAMILY WITH FORMER SECRETARY, 38, AT Pounds 5m MANSION". Highbeam.com. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
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