Theo Paphitis

Having realised very quickly that filing was not his forte, he left and took up a job working for Watches of Switzerland where he discovered his passion for retail. After several years the opportunity arose for Theo to return to insurance, in a more customer facing role, where he gained invaluable experience in finance and property. Returning to retail a few years later, he has revived the fortunes of notable high street names such as Ryman, Partners the Stationers, Stationery Box, La Senza, Contessa Lingerie and more recently the home and garden retailer Robert Dyas. Theo also bought Red Letter Days out of administration in 2005, with fellow TV Dragon Peter Jones, turning it around and selling in 2017. In the Spring of 2011 he also launched what has now become the multi award winning, global lingerie brand Boux Avenue. In 2015 Theo launched Theo Paphitis Retail Group which encompasses Ryman Stationery, Robert Dyas, Boux Avenue and London Graphic Centre, acquired in 2016. The combined group comprises 300 stores and over 3,500 employees who serve millions of customers a year. Theo’s other passion, sport, led him to having 8 marvellous years as Chairman of Millwall Football Club, achieving promotion to the Championship and the FA Cup Final against Manchester United as well as qualifying for Europe. Along with football, Theo closely follows many sports and was co-founder of sports marketing company Movie & Media Sports in the late nineties. In 2013, Theo returned to the sports industry following the investment he made into MB Partners , the boutique sports management agency, where he is now Chairman. Theo is also a dyslexia ambassador and supports the British Dyslexia Association and the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity. He also became Visiting Professor of the University of Derby in 2026. In 2005, Theo joined the popular TV show Dragons’ Den and spent eight subsequent years as a stalwart of the show coining such favourite phrases with viewers as ‘I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than invest in that!”. Throughout the seasons Theo invested in numerous small businesses and helped fledgling entrepreneurs develop their businesses in a wide variety of industries from consumer goods to online antique valuations. Theo left the TV show in 2012 to focus on his expanding retail empire. As well as being a well known TV Dragon on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den, Theo appears on many TV and radio shows, including appearances on The One Show, BBC News, Question Times, SKY News, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Peston, BBC Radio 4 Today Show, LBC and many more. Theo regularly shares his common sense views on the politics of the day, business challenges and opportunities, social mobility, dyslexia and retail. Theo also shares his views via his LinkedIn blog: The Paphitis Perspective. Theo hs supported many initiatives and held many roles in Education over the years. He is currently the Visiting Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Derby, having previously been the Chancellor of Solent University from 2018 - 2024. Theo has previously been an ambassador for the National Enterprise Challenge over many years, and is a former patron of the Skills Show. Theo, who is dyslexic, is also the Dyslexia Empowerment Patron for the British Dyslexia Association, and launched the Theo Paphitis Dyslexia Bursary with the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity, supporting teacher training in schools. In 2016 Theo took part in Celebrity Storage Hunters for Charity. He was joined by Vic and Bob,Janet Street Porter, Stephen K Amos and Phil Tufnell to scrap for storage lots, turning any profit over to charity. Although unsuccessful in the bidding - things got heated among the celebrities as they desperately tried to win the unit to make money for their chosen charity. A lot of fun and made for some hilarious viewing! Watch the clip here. Theo Paphitis’ Small Business Sunday ( SBS) is a weekly initiative that gives small businesses a platform to be seen and supported,