John Clinton has returned to Toronto as chairman of J. Walter Thompson Canada as part of a plan to resuscitate the languishing agency.

Clinton’s return – he was president of JWT Canada from 1994 to 1996 – heralded the exit of Ted Nation, president and ceo of JWT Canada, and Scott Goodson, executive creative director.

Last fall, the pair announced with great fanfare their plans to revive JWT Canada through restructuring the agency as an integrated entity – one that Nation said would be well equipped to serve its traditional packaged goods clients as well as other sectors of the market.

Nation, who had been with jwt since 1980, most recently as general manager of JWT Chile, took over in Canada when Clinton left.

Goodson, a Canadian, joined the agency in February 1997, after eight years at Welinder Advertising in Sweden.

Larry Tolpin, worldwide creative director at jwt and ceo of JWT West and JWT Canada, says the plan behind the new management changes is to recapture the strength of the jwt brand in Canada.

‘When you look back 15 years, jwt was not only the largest agency but the top creative agency among the multinationals.

‘There are two main objectives now: to build our clients’ businesses and then to build our business. We plan on doing it through hiring some top talent, starting with an executive creative director.’

Tolpin says he expects to hire a new executive creative director within the next four to six weeks and that the agency that will also be staffing up in creative and planning.

Tolpin, formerly BBDO Canada’s creative guru, left BBDO South in Atlanta last September, and is now based at JWT San Francisco.

Clinton, most recently executive vice-president, general manager of JWT Chicago, joined JWT Toronto in 1979. He was named president of sister agency Enterprise in 1990 and then president of jwt in 1994.

While in Chicago, Clinton is credited with bringing in the us$80 million Dell Computer account as well as major assignments from Kraft and H.J. Heinz.

JWT Canada clients include Kellogg Canada and Kraft Canada.