Theo Paphitis

Ryman Chairman; Theo Paphitis

Theo Paphitis is one of the UK’s most high profile businessmen. His empire spans retail, property, finance and consumer goods.

The famous entrepreneur was born in Cyprus. His family emigrated to Britain in the 1960s and Theo showed his business skills at the tender age of 15 when he was put in charge of his North London school’s tuck shop, achieving notable success.

His formal working career started as an assistant to the tea boy with a Lloyds of London broker before moving into retail at the age of 18. He then moved into property and corporate finance, setting up his own company aged just 23.

He was Chairman of Millwall FC for eight years, taking the club out of administration and into the Championship and to the FA Cup Final v Manchester United and into Europe.

He has also revived the fortunes of notable retail brands such as La Senza Lingerie (UK), Contessa Lingerie, Ryman, Partners the Stationers and Stationery Box. He sold his interest in the La Senza UK business and Contessa in 2006 and now retains a minority shareholding. In 2008, he combined the stationery businesses to launch a new chain, Ryman Stationery (www.ryman.co.uk) where he is now Chairman. The company sponsors the Isthmian football league, called the Ryman league.

Another high profile venture is Red Letter Days, the company he salvaged out of administration. He owns it with fellow Dragon, Peter Jones.

Theo’s life story – Enter the Dragon – is published by Orion Books in paperback. It gives an insight into the thoughts and aspirations of one of the UK’s most popular entrepreneurs.

Through his appearances on BBC TWO’s Dragons’ Den , (series eight is currently in production) Theo has advised many entrepreneurs and invested in several innovative businesses and brands.

The Paphitis Charitable Trust distributes his fees from TV appearances, speeches and his book to causes close to his heart, in particular charities associated with children. With his colleagues at Ryman, Theo helped raise half a million pounds for Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day Campaign in March. Theo is also an ambassador for the Sport Relief campaign (organized by Comic Relief) that ran in March 2010. The company raised in excess of £225,000 for good causes.

Theo is a patron for Skillsmart Retail, the Sector Skills Council for Retail, which is committed to driving up skills levels in the industry. His special areas of responsibility are as the Retail Apprentices’ Champion and for the new National Skills Academy for Retail.

He has two Honorary Doctorates – one from the University of Middlesex and another from the University of Huddersfield. These are in recognition of his belief that it is important to enjoy learning in its broadest possible sense.

Theo has also fronted a campaign by the Carbon Trust that is giving away 0% loans to businesses through its Big Business Refit campaign.

He has recently returned from filming in Vietnam, India and Brazil for a new BBC TWO television series called Theo’s Adventure Capitalists. The series, produced in association with The Open University, tracked the success of British enterprises looking to business overseas.

The BBC has also commissioned a new TV series called The Buying Game, where Theo goes behind closed doors at some of the biggest names in UK retail to expose the secret world of buying for the first time.

Theo lives in Surrey with his wife Debbie. They have five children and three grandchildren.

www.theopaphitis.com

www.redletterdays.co.uk

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