Theo Paphitis was a former chief executive of the British retailer Ryman before joining Dragons' Den.
Paphitis acquired control of Ryman, the stationery retailer, in 1995 and became closely associated with its growth. He later built a wider retail portfolio that included other British high-street brands. His retail background became a recurring part of his perspective when evaluating consumer products and businesses on television.
He joined Dragons' Den as an investor in the first series and became one of the programme's most recognisable early Dragons. His time on the show ended after series eight, when he was replaced by Hilary Devey in the next series.
The wording matters because Paphitis was not the founder of Ryman. He acquired the company and led it as an executive. That distinction separates his history from entrepreneurs who created a brand from the beginning. Ryman itself was founded in the nineteenth century by Henry Ryman.