MEET THE INDUCTEES

A photo of Spin Master's co-founders: Anton Rabie (left), Ronnen Harary (right), and Ben Varadi (middle)

Ronnen Harary, Anton Rabie & Ben Varadi

Ronnen Harary

Chair & Co-Founder

Ronnen Harary is a Co-Founder of Spin Master and a member of the company’s board of directors. Since the inception of the company in 1994, together with his two business partners, Ronnen has led and helped to establish Spin Master as a global leader in the toy, media and entertainment space.

Ronnen’s expertise and passion for children’s entertainment have led to the creation of award-winning programming and franchises including PAW Patrol, Bakugan, Rusty Rivets and Unicorn Academy, which have touched the lives of children in more than 190 countries. These wildly-popular series transcend cultural boundaries with universal characters and storylines that have captured the imagination and play of millions of kids around the world. He has played an integral role in forging industry partnerships to bring Spin Master’s content to kids through multi-platform media channels, including the company’s foray into feature films.

With a focus on unlocking ideas and fostering innovation throughout the organization, Ronnen encourages employees to reach their full potential. He pushes boundaries and challenges teams to innovate and explore white space opportunities to further Spin Master’s leadership in children’s entertainment. He drove the company’s entry into the digital gaming arena and is active in guiding growth and expansion in the space.

Ronnen has a strong sense of social responsibility and is passionate about giving back. In 2013, he founded the Toy Movement, a global initiative that provides toys to children in need, giving them the opportunity to experience the joy of play. Since its inception, Spin Master has led missions all over the world, including Kenya, Iraq, Israel, Mexico and Turkey, delivering more than 840,000 toys to disadvantaged or displaced children.

Ronnen and his co-founders were recognized for their incredible impact on the toy industry with their induction into both the Canadian Toy Hall of Fame and the US Toy Hall of Fame.

Ronnen is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, with a BA in Political Science.

 

Anton Rabie

Director & Co-Founder

Anton Rabie is a Co-Founder, Board Director and rotating Chair of Spin Master. In 1994, Anton partnered with friends Ronnen and Ben to create Spin Master and served as Spin Master’s Co-CEO for 28 years. He and his partners set the strategy and long-term vision for the company – now a global leader in children’s entertainment.

Anton’s fearless entrepreneurial mindset and resiliency were instrumental in Spin Master’s success, helping to create a culture of risk-taking and acceptance of failure. In his tenure, Anton led many functions, including sales, marketing, HR, and organizational design, where he attracted and developed talent, and forged relationships with retailers. He spearheaded the company’s global expansion establishing international offices in more than 28 countries. He also led and played a foundational role in more than 24 Spin Master acquisitions, including Tech Deck, Cardinal, GUND and Rubik’s Cube.

Described as an “energy force”, Anton is passionate about people, promoting the company’s culture and inspiring others. He is relentlessly committed to developing world-class talent and helping to foster psychological safety within the workplace. An out of the box thinker, he is obsessed with continuous learning, driving change and embracing an open mindset.

Anton currently serves as Co-Founder and Chairman of The Kale Fund, a founder-friendly private equity fund focused mainly on health & wellness companies. He generously shares his experiences and knowledge to help others achieve greatness through mentorship. Outside of work, Anton enjoys spending time with his family, traveling and living a healthy lifestyle.

Anton and his co-founders were recognized for their incredible impact on the toy industry with their induction into both the Canadian Toy Hall of Fame and the US Toy Hall of Fame.

 

Ben Varadi

Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer

Ben Varadi is a co-founder of Spin Master and is currently Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer and a member of the board of directors. He, along with his co-founders, was a recipient of Canada’s Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 1999 in the Emerging Entrepreneur Category and has been featured as a Top 40 under 40 executive for his achievements in Canada and the global marketplace. He plays an active role in driving toy innovation and remains influential in Spin Master’s product selection.

Ben and his co-founders were recognized for their incredible impact on the toy industry with their induction into both the Canadian Toy Hall of Fame and the US Toy Hall of Fame.

Ben earned an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University in 1994.

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