Entrepreneur and social innovator Marcel LeBrun has been named the 2025 inductee to the InnovateNB Hall of Fame in recognition of his decades-long impact on New Brunswick’s technology and innovation sectors.

The honour will be presented during the InnovateNB Awards ceremony on Nov. 27 at the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre, where innovators from the province’s private, public, and post-secondary sectors will also be recognized.

LeBrun’s career spans more than 30 years and includes leadership roles that helped shape New Brunswick’s digital economy. He began at NBTel, the provincial telecommunications utility that later merged with regional peers to become Bell Aliant, where he contributed to the province’s early digital technology strategy.

In 1998, LeBrun co-founded iMagicTV, one of the first companies to commercialize Internet Protocol television (IPTV) technology. The company was among the earliest to demonstrate how broadband networks could deliver television content—a concept that would later become standard in the telecommunications industry.

LeBrun went on to co-found Radian6 in 2006 with technologist Chris Newton and former NBTel colleague Chris Ramsey. Within three years, Radian6 had become a leading global provider of social media analytics, serving half of the Fortune 500, including Dell, GE and Procter & Gamble. The platform played a key role in Procter & Gamble’s 2010 “Old Spice” campaign, which became a landmark in real-time social media engagement.

In 2011, Salesforce acquired Radian6 for nearly $350 million, marking one of the largest technology exits in Atlantic Canadian history.

Since the sale, LeBrun has dedicated much of his time to mentoring emerging entrepreneurs and strengthening the region’s startup ecosystem. Through his work with Propel ICT and other innovation hubs, he has supported dozens of founders in building and scaling new ventures.

LeBrun has also turned his focus to social innovation as the founder of 12 Neighbours, a Fredericton-based initiative that builds tiny homes and provides supports such as entrepreneurship training and counselling for people experiencing homelessness. A related effort, Neighbourly Homes, expands on that model by developing transitional housing that emphasizes dignity and autonomy.

The InnovateNB Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose achievements have significantly advanced innovation in New Brunswick. Previous winners of the honour were entrepreneur and investor Gerry Pond and the founders of Q1 Labs.

To learn more about InnovateNB and to buy tickets to the gala, please visit this website.