Bruce Neve says True Media’s Toronto office is soaring to new heights – and that’s why it was time to hire a new SVP of client strategy.

Former Wavemaker managing partner John Ware has joined the agency, where he will lead its growing roster of clients in media strategy and finding growth opportunities.

In the 16 months since the Calgary agency launched its Toronto outpost (with former Starcom MediaVest Canada CEO Neve at the helm), Neve says they’ve gained 16 clients, with the three most recent being Winnipeg-based Ag Growth International, the Movember Foundation and Lakes of Muskoka Brewery.

“John worked with me before with Molson, so being from the beer business, we knew he’d be good for an account like [Lakes of Muskoka],” Neve told MiC. “We needed someone with John’s client experience.”

Neve said as True Media grows its operations (the Toronto office is now up to six employees), he wants the agency to be known as one that focuses on “business results, not just media delivery.”

“A lot of that comes from having a very entrepreneurial attitude, focusing on data and digital, and actually using the technology to gain insights that drive results,” he said.

Prior to Wavemaker, Ware has worked with ZenithOptimedia, Mediacom, Ogilvy & Mather and others. He has previously worked on accounts for clients such as P&G, IBM, General Motors, BMW and Audi.