Kelly Hoppen joined Dragons' Den after becoming known internationally as an interior designer.
Hoppen built her reputation through an interior-design style often associated with clean lines, neutral colours and a blend of contemporary and Eastern influences. Her career included residential and commercial design, product development and brand-building, all of which informed her approach as a television investor.
She joined the Dragons' Den panel in 2013. Her background made her a different kind of investor from Dragons whose fortunes came primarily from supermarkets, manufacturing, telecommunications or stationery retail. Contestants presenting design-led, lifestyle or consumer brands could therefore expect questions about visual identity, usability and market positioning.
Kelly Hoppen is sometimes confused with Rachel Elnaugh because both were women who appeared on the programme. They came from different business fields: Elnaugh was associated with the fashion label Red or Dead, while Hoppen's best-known professional identity is interior design.