Dragons' Den star Touker Suleyman has clarified that his recent announcement about retiring does not mean he is stepping away from business entirely. Earlier this month, the entrepreneur revealed he was leaving the BBC show after 10 years, sparking speculation about his future.
Not Retiring from Business
In a new video posted to social media, Suleyman addressed the confusion. 'Hello everyone,' he began. 'You've probably heard I'm retiring. I'm not retiring from business, but I'm retiring from the den. First thing I want to do is thank you all for your very kind and loving messages to me.'
The 72-year-old star expressed gratitude to the BBC, calling it a 'real privilege and honour' to have been part of the show for a decade. He also thanked his fellow Dragons, including Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Steven Bartlett, and special guests, as well as the entrepreneurs who pitched on the show.
New Ventures Ahead
'It's a journey,' Touker continued. 'The most important thing I wanna say, this is not the end of the journey for me. Lots of new, exciting things, I'll be now focused more on my own existing businesses. And there's a few new businesses on the horizon.'
The business magnate, known for owning British menswear brand Hawes & Curtis, joined the Den in Series 13. He also owns fashion brand Ghost and Marks & Spencer under his umbrella company, Low Profile Group.
He teased a new venture: 'The most exciting one for me. I own the IP of a brand called Lipstick. You might say, "What is Lipstick?" It's what it says it is. I'm launching a lipstick brand in September, which takes the best of lipstick products of all the brands, under one roof.'
Alongside his makeup line, Suleyman is planning to start a podcast to mentor young entrepreneurs and start-ups. 'I think the UK have got some great entrepreneurs and I want to help them on their journey so they don't make the same mistakes I've made in the past,' he said.
Concluding the video, Touker joked that even at nearly 73, he's 'not done yet'.
