Activate CFO Recognized on The Globe and Mail’s List of Canada’s Best Executives

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (April 27, 2025) - Dan Haroun, Chief Financial Officer at Activate, has been recognized as a winner on The Globe and Mail’s list of Canada’s Best Executives in the finance category. The Report on Business magazine Best Executive Awards program runs annually and recognizes exceptional non-CEO leaders at the SVP, EVP and C-Suite levels.

 

“Dan’s leadership has been instrumental in positioning Activate for sustainable growth as we expand globally,” said Adam Schmidt, CEO and Co-Founder of Activate. “His ability to combine financial rigour with strategic insight allows us to enter new markets, unlock new technology, and deliver exceptional experiences around the globe. This award reflects the way Dan leads: thoughtful, collaborative, and focused on helping the whole team win.”

 

Haroun joined Activate in 2024 with more than 15 years of senior finance leadership across consumer and retail brands, including experience scaling operations and leading major transactions. Prior to joining Activate, he served as CEO and previously CFO of Freshii, where he helped guide the company through its evolution as a publicly traded global brand and led its successful sale to a private equity-backed buyer. Earlier in his career, Dan held senior finance roles at Walmart Canada, Restaurant Brands International, and Tim Hortons. 

 

“I’m honoured to be recognized by The Globe and Mail alongside such an accomplished group of leaders. At Activate, our focus has always been on building a foundation that supports long-term growth,” said Dan Haroun, CFO of Activate. “This recognition reflects the strength of our strategy, the confidence of our partners, and the exceptional team driving Activate forward.”

Under Dan’s leadership, Activate has paired rapid growth with a disciplined financial strategy. In 2026, the company doubled its debt financing facilities to $72 million through an expanded partnership with Export Development Canada and RBC Royal Bank, supporting its path to 100 locations across 12 countries by 2027. During this period of accelerated global expansion, Activate was also named Canada’s fastest-growing company in 2026 and the Americas’ fastest-growing leisure and entertainment brand by The Financial Times in both 2025 and 2026. The company further ranked No. 1 among entertainment businesses on The Globe and Mail’s 2024 and 2025 Top Growing Companies lists, including 1,105% growth over three years.

Since launching in 2019, Activate has redefined entertainment by merging physical activity with immersive gaming. Today, with 75 locations across 10 countries, Activate has welcomed over 10 million Players worldwide.

For more information on Activate, visitplayactivate.com or follow @activategames on social media for the latest updates.

 

 

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The games await. Behind every door, you'll need your reflexes, your wits, and your friends to beat them. Play against the room or against each other–it's easy to play but hard to beat. Welcome to Activate. Headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada, Activate has grown to 75 locations across Canada, the U.S., Finland, France, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, the U.K., and the U.A.E.

 

To join the active gaming movement, visit Activate and follow us on social media:

 

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