N.L. technology innovator Karl Kenny dies at 64

Karl Kenny, a legend in Newfoundland and Labrador's marine technology sector, has died. 

Kenny was a co-founder of Marport Canada, which revolutionized software-defined sonar technology, and the founder of Kraken Robotics, a local start-up that became a multimillion dollar company.

Kenny died on Feb. 11 at 64 years old.

The Fermeuse local started his marine career as a maritime surface officer with the Royal Canadian Navy.

He went on to join the Microsoft computer mouse project team in the 1980s and continued his legacy of innovation by founding Telepix — a leader in digital imaging — in the 1990s. 

Kraken, based in Mount Pearl, was founded in 2012 and has formed a global presence with its ocean technology such as sonars, unmanned underwater vehicles, and launch and recovery systems for sea vessels. 

Kenny retired in 2022.

"Karl's strategic vision and entrepreneurial spirit enabled Kraken, a small start-up out of Newfoundland, to punch well above our weight and become recognized worldwide for our high-resolution synthetic aperture sonar technology," said Kraken executive vice president David Shea in a press release. 

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