Montreal, Quebec
Oct. 23, 2015 - Corporate

François-Xavier Souvay, president and founder of Lumenpulse (TSX: LMP), a world leader in LED lighting, is the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 Quebec.

'François-Xavier Souvay is an entrepreneur that Quebec can be proud of,' says Luc Charbonneau, co-director of the Grand Prix of EY Entrepreneur in Quebec. 'He has established a global company that creates jobs around the world and thrives. His entrepreneurial spirit continues to impress, and he fully deserves this award.'

Forecasting the LED digital change on the horizon, François-Xavier founded Lumenpulse in 2006 to merge the lighting and electronic worlds. His goal is to become a world leader in the architectural LED lighting market, and he is on track to achieve this objective. Lumenpulse is now a publicly traded company, which manufactures and markets over 300 products for which it has won several awards. The company has also expanded its presence in the US, Europe and Asia.

'Always looking for innovation, François-Xavier Souvay is the perfect example of a visionary entrepreneur,' says Daniel Baer, ​​co-director of EY's Entrepreneur of the Year for Quebec. 'With his leadership, the Lumenpulse research and development strategy has earned an impressive 59 patents for its innovative products, with 70 other patents pending. With this forward-thinking approach, Lumenpulse has become a flagship of the lighting industry, light years ahead of the competition.'

By encouraging the adoption of LED lighting, which is an alternative to traditional lighting systems, providing energy and environmental benefits, Mr. Souvay has left a real mark on the industry, and continues to passionately raise awareness of this technology. He is also a generous donor that supports various charities in the areas of education and health.

'I'm very proud to have been named Entrepreneur of the Year for Quebec,' Mr. Souvay said. 'This tremendous honour is a testament to the growth strategy we put in place, and our commitment to innovation and sustainable LED lighting technology. It's also an acknowledgement of the passion, dedication and hard work of all Lumenpulse employees around the world.'

What's next?

As the Quebec region's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2015, François-Xavier will compete with top entrepreneurs from the Prairies, Pacific, Atlantic, and Ontario regions for the national honour of Canada's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2015, to be presented at a gala celebration on 24 November 2015 in Toronto. In June 2016, Canada's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2015 will move to the world stage to compete with more than 50 country recipients for the title of EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year.

More information

Follow @EYCanada, #EOY and #EOYPrairies on Twitter for the latest event updates

Visit ey.com/ca/eoy for more program details and a complete list of category finalists and gala dates in the regions.

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 140 cities in 50 countries.

This year's national program sponsors are TEC Canada, La Presse, ICI RDI, TMX, Merrill DataSite, Kira Talent, Air Canada, The Printing House Limited. Prairies regional sponsors are Business in Calgary and Business in Edmonton magazines.

About EY's Strategic Growth Markets Network

EY's worldwide Strategic Growth Markets Network is dedicated to serving the changing needs of high-growth companies. For more than 30 years, we've helped many of the world's most dynamic and ambitious companies grow into market leaders. Whether working with international mid-cap companies or early-stage venture-backed businesses, our professionals draw upon their extensive experience, insight and global resources to help your business succeed.

About EY

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. For more than 150 years in Canada, we've delivered the insights and quality services that help build trust and confidence in capital markets here and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

For more information about the program, FAQs and key dates, please visit ey.com/ca/EOY.

*Photo by Martine Larose.

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