MUMBAI: Global communications network WPP has acquired Canadian creative agency john st.

Founded in 2001 and based in Toronto, john st. employs approximately 100 people and has unaudited revenues for the year ended 31 December 2012 of approximately $14.0 million.

The acquisition of john st. strengthens WPP‘s presence in Canada. "We see enormous value in being part of WPP," said john st. president Arthur Fleischmann. "We‘ll now be able to augment our current services in areas that clients are asking for, such as media, direct and public relations."

john st.‘s clients include AstraZeneca, Kruger, ING Direct, Maple Leaf Foods and Tata. Over the last 12 years, john st. has built an international reputation as one of Canada‘s leading innovative creative agencies. It was recently named Silver Agency of the Year as well as Silver Digital Agency of the Year by Strategy, a leading Canadian marketing publication.

WPP is the leading communications services group in Canada. WPP remains committed to building and broadening its client offer in the mature economies of the world. Collectively (including associates), the Group has revenues of $450 million and employs more than 2,500 people in Canada. WPP companies represented in the market include JWT, Ogilvy, GroupM, Hill+Knowlton Strategies and Burson-Marsteller. In 2010, WPP‘s wholly-owned subsidiary Young & Rubicam Group acquired the Toronto-based TAXI creative network.