TORONTO and NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Talent Partners, the leader in talent and production support services for more than 750 agency and advertiser clients representing 1,500 brands, has launched Talent Partners Canada. Through a merger with long-running, Toronto-based talent payment and signatory services company, Canadian Connection, Talent Partners continues to expand its global payroll support services for its agency and advertising clients by establishing a presence in one of the world’s fastest growing markets for commercial production. Talent Partners’ newest international operation will be managed by Canadian Connection veteran Lynne McQueen from an office in Toronto. The announcement of the new venture was made today by Paul Muratore, President and Chief Executive Officer of Talent Partners.

Talent Partners Canada will provide talent payment and other talent management services including talent negotiations and business affairs, clearance, and rights and royalty management. Canadian Connection founder Sheila Moen will retain the signatory status and focus on providing signatory services to agencies for them to employ professional union performers working on world-wide commercial productions.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer a fully integrated global solution for our U.S. and Canadian agency clients,” states Talent Partners’ President and CEO Paul Muratore. “Combining resources and talent management expertise from both organizations allows us to provide solutions to the many complex challenges faced by our clients by ensuring we have the right resources to represent them in the best way possible.”

Since its inception in 2000, Canadian Connection grew from concentrating on signatory services to providing payroll services for their many clients, including Ogilvy & Mather and Draftfcb.

“I am pleased that Canadian Connection was able to join forces with a like-minded company, one that can provide their support and resources for our clients,” states Sheila Moen, President, Canadian Connection. “With the Talent Partners name comes global prestige and contacts that will provide broadened services to the agencies that support commercial production across Canada.”

“I couldn’t be more excited about joining Talent Partners Canada, to be the Canadian counterpart of such an incredible company,” states Lynne McQueen, manager of Talent Partners Canada.

In its nearly 50-year history, Talent Partners has grown from a specialty payroll company focused on commercial talent to a powerhouse provider of more than 125 essential services, including talent negotiations and business affairs, traffic and clearance, rights and royalty management, signatory services, and more. The firm’s 750+ client roster includes 23 of the Top 25 largest U.S. advertising agencies and 23 of the Top 25 largest U.S. advertisers. The company’s 250+ person staff provides round-the-clock services from offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London and now Toronto.

For more information, go to www.talentpartners.com or call Renee Bellber at 646.981.6861 rbellber@talentpartners.com.

Media Contact:
Sal Cataldi/Jacky Agudelo – Cataldi PR, 212.244.9797, sal@cataldipr.com jacky@cataldipr.com

SOURCE Talent Partners