Riva, 54, spent five years as the chief executive of the British Fashion Council and much of the recent success of London Fashion Week is down to her. She started her career as a clerk in the merchandising department at Debenhams, and within a few months realised she had found her vocation. She then moved to Topshop and started her ascent of the management ladder. By 1998 she was managing director of Evans, Principles and Racing Green.
With Peter Davies, chief executive of Rubicon, she led a management buyout of the Principles, Warehouse, Racing Green and Hawkshead brands from Arcadia Group in 2001.
By 2004 Riva had turned a £9m operating loss into a £20m profit and she hit the jackpot when the business was sold for £140m the following year to the Shoe Studio Group. Riva made more than £40m in sale proceeds but The Sunday Times Rich List kept her on £40m for now.