John Kelly
Chairman, NexInnovations Inc.
Co-Chair, Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance
Principal, Reid Eddison Inc.

Hall of Fame Inductee 2004

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Visionary entrepreneur John Kelly of Ottawa has made historic contributions to Canada's modern economy. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame during the 12th annual CIPA Gala Banquet.

Kelly, 64, has been building influential companies for three decades. Today he is Chairman of NexInnovations Inc., Co-Chair of the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA) and a principal at Reid Eddison Inc., a technology mentoring company.

From 1995 to 1999, Kelly was president and chief executive officer of JetForm Corporation. JetForm was a global leader in providing e-process software solutions, which later became known as Accelio Corporation and was acquired by Adobe Systems Inc.

Kelly previously founded and was chief executive officer of Why Interactive, Canada's first interactive multimedia development company. He was a founder and chief executive at both Computer Innovation Distributors Inc. (which later became EDS Innovations, and now NexInnovations) and Nabu Network Corporation, a pioneering cable-based software and information distributor.

Kelly was also a founder of SHL Systemhouse Ltd. (since acquired by EDS), where he served as senior vice president and chief operating officer from its inception in 1974 until 1980.

A winner of several awards as a civic leader, Kelly serves on the boards of numerous charitable and educational organizations including the United Way/Centraide Campaign for Ottawa-Carleton and Queensway-Carleton Hospital Foundation. He is Chair of the Dean's Advisory Board of the School of Management of the University of Ottawa. In 2001, he was Chair of the Infrastructure Working Group of Industry Canada's National Broadband Task Force. In 1997, Kelly was recognized as Master Entrepreneur of the Year for the province of Ontario.

Kelly is married and has five children.