Dragon’s Den Loses Three, Adds Three New Ones

CBC’s Dragons’ Den is getting a major makeover in its upcoming 10th season with the departure of three dragons. After just a year on the show, restaurateur Vikram Vij is leaving, the CBC announced Wednesday. He will join the previously announced departing dragons, David Chilton and Arlene Dickinson.

In their place will be three new judges: brewery owner Manjit Minhas, internet entrepreneur Michele Romanow and, as announced last week, Joe Fresh clothing company founder Joe Mimran. They’ll join the two remaining current dragons, Michael Wekerle and Jim Treliving.

“Both these women are accomplished entrepreneurs,” said CBC executive director Jennifer Dettman, of Minhas and Romanow, in a statement. “Michele is a millennial on a mission, having built four successful companies before her 29th birthday, and Manjit’s entrepreneurial expertise covers everything from product development, marketing, manufacturing to global distribution. They’re definitely fantastic additions to the Den.”

In an earlier interview with the Star, Dettman promised that at least one new dragon would be a woman to replace Dickinson.

Romanow launched her first business, a coffee shop, while studying engineering at Queen’s University, and is the youngest dragon to be a judge on the show. She also created various businesses, included daily deal site Buytopia.ca, and mobile savings site Snapsaves, which was bought last year by Groupon.

Minhas is no slouch either. At the age of 19 she put together $10,000 with her brother to launch a beer label in Alberta. And in 2006 they purchased the second oldest brewery in the U.S.

Meanwhile, the CBC says Vij is “leaving the show to focus on his growing business.”

Production for the show’s 10th season, which reaches an average audience of a million viewers, starts April 13.

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http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2015/03/25/dragons-den-gets-two-new-dragons-loses-vikram-vij.html