Ronnen Harary

Ronnen Harary is a Canadian entrepreneur and co-founder of Spin Master, the children's entertainment company behind PAW Patrol, Bakugan, Air Hogs, and Melissa & Doug. Born in South Africa in 1971, he moved to Toronto at age five and later studied political science at the University of Western Ontario. Diagnosed with dysgraphia at age ten, he credits the learning disability with teaching him to think differently and rely on intuition — traits that would define his entrepreneurial career.

In 1994, Harary and childhood friend Anton Rabie launched Spin Master with $10,000 each, joined by Ben Varadi. Their first product, Earth Buddy — a nylon-stocking-covered seed head — generated $1.5 million in six months. That success funded Devil Sticks in 1995 and Air Hogs in 1998, the latter becoming a global phenomenon. Harary co-created PAW Patrol in 2010, now airing in 160 countries, and oversaw acquisitions including the Erector Set by Meccano and Cardinal Industries.

Harary served as co-CEO until 2021, when he became chairman. Spin Master went public on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 2015 and now employs over 1,600 people across more than fifteen countries. He continues to guide long-term strategy and merger activity while maintaining an active role in product development and brand vision.

Beyond Spin Master, Harary launched the Ronnen Harary Foundation in 2020 to support students with learning disabilities and public spaces in Jerusalem.