English businesswoman and Investor who built a successful Multi-million pound holiday business before it was finally sold for £83m. Best known as one of the longest standing Investors on BBC Two Programme Dragons Den

Deborah is a highly successful business woman and entrepreneur and one of the most popular investors on the BBC’s Dragons Den.  

Deborah launched her own glass and ceramics export company straight out of Business College and then went on to set up one of the first Stefanel fashion franchises in the UK. With several successful businesses in the leisure and retail sector under her belt, Deborah became Managing Director of the holiday park business Westar Holidays, acquired the major shareholding in a management buyout and later sold the company in a deal with Phoenix Equity Partners worth £33million whilst retaining a 23% stake. Following this, Deborah continued to innovate and develop the company, selling her remaining shares when the business was sold to Parkdean Holidays for £83m.  

Deborah first appeared on Dragons’ Den in Series 3 and is known as a shrewd and reasonable Dragon. The show has led her to invest and advise in all manner of businesses leading to a wide-ranging portfolio covering a variety of sectors from research and fashion to DIY and food. She continues to invest in Businesses outside of Dragons Den and most famously saved Fox Brothers, Somerset’s oldest textile mill which now exports across the globe.  

Deborah supports ethical, fair practice both in business and in life believing that taking care of the environment and wildlife is essential for our future security and wellbeing. She is actively involved in numerous charities and is a Fellow of the WWF, a Trustee of Tusk Trust and Ambassador for Micro-loan Foundation, Marine Conservation Society and World Horse Welfare amongst others. She has become a CIWF Compassion Visionary.