Ronnen Harary

He recalls moving with his family from South Africa to Toronto at age five and being assessed with dysgraphia at ten. His experience informed his later interest in learning differences and educational support.⁠[1]

Western University’s senate materials identify him as a 1994 political-science BA graduate; the company’s 2026 circular records the same qualification.⁠[2][3]

He co-founded Spin Master with Anton Rabie and Ben Varadi, starting with approximately $10,000. Their early Earth Buddy product was a nylon-stocking figure containing grass seeds that sprouted into hair when watered.⁠[4]

The company introduced the Sky Shark flying toy, broadening its novelty-product range and helping establish the Air Hogs brand.⁠[4]

He and his fellow founders received Canada’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year recognition in the Emerging Entrepreneur category.⁠[3]

His production credits include executive-producing Bakugan from 2007. The company identifies the toy line’s 2008 breakthrough as a milestone, combining transforming toys, cards and game mechanics with animated entertainment.⁠[5][4]

During his tenure as co-CEO, the company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled about 4.2 million Aqua Dots kits after serious reactions in children who swallowed the beads. The case concerned a product distributed by the company.⁠[6]

Western established the Ronnen Harary Award for that academic year, supporting entering undergraduates with documented learning disabilities. Its original terms provided C$5,000 annually, renewable subject to eligibility requirements.⁠[2]

The CPSC announced a $1.3 million company settlement concerning alleged failures to report hazards and the import and sale of a banned hazardous product. Spin Master denied knowingly violating the law. The announcement concerned the company, not a personal judgment against Harary.⁠[6]

PAW Patrol, which he helped develop and executive-produce, launched on Nickelodeon in the United States. Based on a concept by Keith Chapman, it was produced by Spin Master Entertainment with animation from Guru Studio.⁠[7][5]

Spin Master completed its initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange under TOY. This was a company financing and governance milestone.⁠[8]

The company announced an agreement to acquire Toca Boca and Sago Mini. As co-CEO, Harary explained a strategy connecting children’s digital play, toys and television. Subsequent reporting confirmed their acquisition in the second quarter.⁠[9][8]

His official biography dates the Ronnen Harary Foundation to 2020, initially focusing on support for students with learning disabilities and improvements to public spaces in Jerusalem.⁠[1]

Under the succession announced in December 2020, Max Rangel became CEO in April 2021. Harary and Rabie shifted toward strategic responsibilities and remained directors, with Harary stepping away from daily operations as co-CEO.⁠[10][11]

He, Anton Rabie and Ben Varadi were inducted into the Canadian Toy Association Hall of Fame for their contributions to the industry.⁠[12]

According to his website, he helped launch Middle East–America Dialogue and serves as its chairman. Working with Yaakov Katz and other partners, the initiative convenes private discussions among U.S. and Middle Eastern policy figures.⁠[1][13]

His project page records a MEAD summit in Abu Dhabi and a plan to alternate future gatherings between the United States and the Middle East, as part of his private policy-dialogue work.⁠[13]

EY Canada recognized him and the other two Spin Master founders with its Ontario Entrepreneur of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award of Excellence. The announcement followed on October 28.⁠[14]

The 2025 annual report and 2026 circular identify him as a director and co-founder, with Anton Rabie as board chair. Some biographies still call Harary chairman; the role stated here follows the newer company disclosures.⁠[15][3][16]

He appeared in an approximately one-hour interview about Earth Buddy, the Kmart order, passing on Beyblade, developing Bakugan and PAW Patrol, business setbacks and starting young. Wealth wording in the episode title belongs to the program.⁠[17]

Crown Currency published No Experience Necessary: Why Betting on Yourself in Your Twenties Is the Best Decision You’ll Ever Make, a 288-page hardcover. Organized around eleven principles, it uses his entrepreneurial experiences to discuss risk, partnerships and opportunities for young founders.⁠[18]

On Not Another CEO, he recalled declining a proposed live-action Bakugan film collaboration and characterized the decision as a major career mistake. This was his retrospective assessment.⁠[19]

He supports The Toy Movement, play kits for child-friendly spaces and holiday toy-giving initiatives. His foundation’s projects include the Full Potential Scholarship, support for Musrara arts education and the Green Door public-space project. The scholarship combines financial assistance with tutoring.⁠[20][21][22]

His website is https://www.ronnenharary.com/ (opens in a new window) and directly links the book-related X account https://x.com/NoEXPNec (opens in a new window) for No Experience Necessary and associated entrepreneurship content.⁠[23]