About Theo Paphitis
Theodoros Paphitis (Greek: Θεόδωρος Παφίτης; born 24 September 1959) is a Greek-Cypriot British retail magnate and entrepreneur. He is best known for his appearances on the BBC business programme Dragons' Den and as former chairman of Millwall Football Club. Paphitis has made the majority of his fortune in the retail sector. In 2006, he sold his equity stake in the lingerie brand La Senza for a reported £100 million. He is the owner of stationery chain Ryman, the homewares specialist Robert Dyas and lingerie retailer Boux Avenue. According to The Sunday Times Rich List in 2020, Paphitis is worth £290 million. In May 2018, Solent University in Southampton named Paphitis as their new Chancellor. Paphitis was inaugurated as the university's Chancellor on 11 October 2018. He will serve a minimum of three years. Paphitis succeeded Lord West of Spithead. Paphitis first lived in Old Trafford in Greater Manchester when his family arrived in the UK from Cyprus. Wanting more money, he discovered his passion for retailing and sales when at 18 he worked as a sales assistant for Watches of Switzerland in Bond Street. When Ryman became insolvent, Paphitis approached the administrators and bought the company.
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