CBC announced today that Joe Fresh founder Joe Mimran will join the upcoming 10th season of DRAGONS’ DEN. The new season of DRAGONS’ DEN will air in fall 2015.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Joe Mimran to DRAGONS’ DEN,” said Jennifer Dettman, executive director, Unscripted Content, CBC. “Joe is a giant in fashion retail in this country. As the brains behind some of Canada’s most successful brands, he’s a welcome addition to the Den.”
“I’m thrilled to join DRAGONS’ DEN, one of the most entertaining and dynamic shows on television,” said Joe Mimran. “I’ve been starting businesses since I was in university, and this is the perfect opportunity to share that lifelong passion and experience with young entrepreneurs. I look forward to working with the other Dragons, hearing some great pitches and hopefully bringing the next great Canadian business idea to life.”
Throughout his storied career, Joe Mimran has founded and built brands that helped define the industry landscape, including Joe Fresh, Club Monaco, Alfred Sung, Caban and—with his wife, Kimberley Newport-Mimran—Pink Tartan. With an intuitive design vision and a keen business sense, Mimran has been at the forefront of fashion and retail for over thirty years. As founder and former creative director of Joe Fresh for Loblaw Companies Limited, Mimran oversaw the brand’s design, merchandising and retail concepts. Under Mimran’s guidance, Joe Fresh has grown to become Canada’s second largest apparel brand, encompassing women’s, men’s, children’s, baby and beauty collections. Additionally, Mimran oversaw creative direction of Home and Entertainment brands for Loblaw, including PC Home, Life at Home, Everyday Essentials, Jump Kids World, Jogi and Tera Gear, among others.
Mimran is also a private investor in Canada-based businesses, ranging from steel to pharmaceuticals. Educated at York University and the University of Windsor, Mimran joined the family dress manufacturing business in 1977. The company marketed several labels, including its marquee Alfred Sung line. The business grew rapidly from a small rented factory to a 50,000 square-foot space on King Street and was renamed Monaco Group in 1981. A longtime collector and patron of the arts, Mimran’s wide-ranging philanthropic activities include support of the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards and NuitBlanche. Additionally, he was co-chair of the 2014 Big Bang Bash benefiting Toronto’s popular Luminato Festival.
Big things are in store for the anticipated 10th season of DRAGONS’ DEN, which will feature top entrepreneurs, innovative business pitches and new Dragons. Further details about the 10th season of DRAGONS’ DEN will be announced in the coming weeks.
DRAGONS’ DEN continues to be the top-rated Canadian unscripted program this season, with an average audience of about 1 million Canadians each week.
The current season of DRAGONS’ DEN airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC Television.