Kelly Hoppen joined the Dragon's Den panel in 2013 after building a career as a British interior designer.
Hoppen is known for a design style often described as combining clean lines, neutral colours and influences from East and West. She established a successful interior-design practice and worked on residential, commercial and transport-related projects before becoming a television personality and investor.
Her appointment brought a design-led perspective to the panel. That background differed from the retail, manufacturing, finance and technology experience represented by other dragons. Hoppen appeared on the British programme during the 2010s, when the investor lineup changed several times.
The year 2013 identifies her entry into Dragon's Den, not the beginning of her design career. She had already been active in interior design for decades, and her television work is only one part of her professional profile.