Sir Ralph Halpern First Wife: Who Is Joan Halpern?

Joan Halpern (born Donkin) was the first wife of British businessman, who was the founder of Topshop and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Burton Group from 1979 to 1991, Sir Ralph Mark Halpern.

Halpern and Joan got married in 1967 and they divorced in 1999, after 32 years of marriage. However, after their divorce, they still maintained friendship and they attended the wedding of their daughter Jenny Halpern Prince together.

Much is not known about Joan.

However, her husband Halpern joined Burton Group as a management trainee in 1961, and was directly involved in the establishment of Top Shop (above a Peter Robinson branch) in 1964.

On the back of its success he progressed through the managerial ranks and became chief executive in 1978.

Halper turned the Burton Group 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.

Sadly, Sir Ralph Halpern passed away on 10 August, 2022 at the age of 83 from natural causes.