CBC’s Dragon’s Den has announced a pair of new dragons for the upcoming season and one of them has Okanagan roots.
Lane Merrifield and Vincenzo Guzzo will join the six dragon panel, replacing the departing Michael Wekerle and Joe Mimran.
They join existing dragons Arlene Dickinson, Jim Treliving, Michele Romanow and Manjit Minhas.
“I am happy to welcome two very impressive new Dragons to the team this season,” said Jennifer Dettman, executive director of unscripted content at CBC.
“With their extensive experience launching innovative and game-changing businesses, Lane and Vincenzo will bring fresh vision and energy to the Den.”
Guzzo is based out of Quebec, but Merrifield is a product of Kelowna who is the creative genius behind the popular children’s social network, Club Penguin.
Just 18 months after launching the network, at 28 years of age, he sold it for a cool $350 million and moved on to his next challenge as one of the youngest executive at the Walt Disney Company.
After his time at Disney, Merrifield launched FreshGrade and founded Wheelhouse, a pair of successful endeavours.
“I am thrilled to be joining the incredible lineup of Dragons in the Den this season,” said Merrifield. “I’ve been fortunate enough to experience the power and adventure of entrepreneurialism throughout my life, and I can’t wait to share that joy and experience with others.”
“We are privileged to live in a country where entrepreneurs are given a platform like this and I’m honoured to be a part of it.”
The pair will join the show for its 13th season, which is currently in production and set to debut later in 2018.
