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Ronnen Harary
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Ronnen Harary
Ronnen Harary (born March 1, 1971) is a Canadian entrepreneur, television and film producer, philanthropist, and billionaire. He is a co-founder of Canadian children's entertainment company Spin Master and the co-creator of Paw Patrol, a preschool series that airs in 160 countries. Along with childhood friend Anton Rabie, he founded Spin Master shortly after graduating from the University of Western Ontario, and they were co-CEOs of the company from 1994 to 2021. Harary is now chair of Spin Master's board of directors. He continues to oversee the company's long-term strategic vision and remains involved in business development and merger and acquisition activity.
Ronnen Harary was born to a Jewish family in South Africa. He moved to Canada when he was five years old and grew up in Toronto. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Western Ontario. Harary has dysgraphia, which means he has difficulty converting the sounds of language into written form.
Harary and Rabie first teamed up in university, forming Campus Faces, a company that made a profit selling advertising along the side of posters. In 1994, soon after graduating from university, they founded Spin Master, and were joined by Ben Varadi, a former classmate of Anton's. With an initial investment of $10,000 each, they were able to launch their first product, the Earth Buddy: a nylon-stocking-covered head of sawdust, topped with grass seeds, which grew to emulate hair. Earth Buddy generated $1.5 million in sales within the first six months of business launch and springboarded Spin Master into the toy industry.
Following the success of Earth Buddy, the founders introduced a number of successful toys into the market, including Devil Sticks, in 1995, and Air Hogs, in 1998. The Air Hogs Sky Shark put Spin Master became one of the most popular toys in the world.
From 2002 to 2007, Spin Master expanded its international footprint, establishing sales and distribution offices across western Europe. The company also opened a marketing and design hub in Los Angeles, which allowed the company to access local toy design, marketing and engineering talent. During this time, Spin Master made its first significant acquisition, acquiring X-Concepts, Inc., maker of Tech Deck. Spin Master's growth allowed the company to expand its licensing capabilities and relationships with major entertainment companies.
One of Spin Master’s most successful toy lines, Bakugan, was launched in 2007. Working with Sega, TMS, Japan Vistec, Corus Entertainment, and Nelvana. It was successful because a revenue sharing model was instituted that the company continues to use.
Harary was one of the co-creators of Paw Patrol, a TV series and toy line created in 2010.
Through a number of major acquisitions, Spin Master has become a steward of several legacy toy brands. In 2013, Spin Master acquired the Erector Set by Meccano, a line of model construction sets. In 2015, Spin Master acquired Cardinal Industries, a 60-year-old game and puzzles company, making Spin Master the second largest games company in the U.S. That same year, Spin Master made its initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
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Ronnen Harary
Ronnen Harary (born March 1, 1971) is a Canadian entrepreneur, television and film producer, philanthropist, and billionaire. He is a co-founder of Canadian children's entertainment company Spin Master and the co-creator of Paw Patrol, a preschool series that airs in 160 countries. Along with childhood friend Anton Rabie, he founded Spin Master shortly after graduating from the University of Western Ontario, and they were co-CEOs of the company from 1994 to 2021. Harary is now chair of Spin Master's board of directors. He continues to oversee the company's long-term strategic vision and remains involved in business development and merger and acquisition activity.
Ronnen Harary was born to a Jewish family in South Africa. He moved to Canada when he was five years old and grew up in Toronto. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Western Ontario. Harary has dysgraphia, which means he has difficulty converting the sounds of language into written form.
Harary and Rabie first teamed up in university, forming Campus Faces, a company that made a profit selling advertising along the side of posters. In 1994, soon after graduating from university, they founded Spin Master, and were joined by Ben Varadi, a former classmate of Anton's. With an initial investment of $10,000 each, they were able to launch their first product, the Earth Buddy: a nylon-stocking-covered head of sawdust, topped with grass seeds, which grew to emulate hair. Earth Buddy generated $1.5 million in sales within the first six months of business launch and springboarded Spin Master into the toy industry.
Following the success of Earth Buddy, the founders introduced a number of successful toys into the market, including Devil Sticks, in 1995, and Air Hogs, in 1998. The Air Hogs Sky Shark put Spin Master became one of the most popular toys in the world.
From 2002 to 2007, Spin Master expanded its international footprint, establishing sales and distribution offices across western Europe. The company also opened a marketing and design hub in Los Angeles, which allowed the company to access local toy design, marketing and engineering talent. During this time, Spin Master made its first significant acquisition, acquiring X-Concepts, Inc., maker of Tech Deck. Spin Master's growth allowed the company to expand its licensing capabilities and relationships with major entertainment companies.
One of Spin Master’s most successful toy lines, Bakugan, was launched in 2007. Working with Sega, TMS, Japan Vistec, Corus Entertainment, and Nelvana. It was successful because a revenue sharing model was instituted that the company continues to use.
Harary was one of the co-creators of Paw Patrol, a TV series and toy line created in 2010.
Through a number of major acquisitions, Spin Master has become a steward of several legacy toy brands. In 2013, Spin Master acquired the Erector Set by Meccano, a line of model construction sets. In 2015, Spin Master acquired Cardinal Industries, a 60-year-old game and puzzles company, making Spin Master the second largest games company in the U.S. That same year, Spin Master made its initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange.