WPIC's Rise: From Beijing Startup to Canada's Best Managed Company

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – May 14, 2026 – WPIC Marketing + Technologies, a firm that began as a small Beijing office with a vision to demystify Asian e-commerce, has been named to the 2026 list of Canada's Best Managed Companies. The prestigious award, which celebrates excellence in privately-owned Canadian firms with revenues over $50 million, marks a significant milestone in the company’s nearly two-decade journey from a niche startup to a dominant force in Asia-Pacific (APAC) cross-border trade.

The designation is a testament to WPIC's sustained growth and leadership, evaluated on a rigorous set of criteria including strategy, innovation, culture, and financial performance. For WPIC, it validates a long-held commitment to building the operational depth required for Western brands to succeed in the world’s most dynamic and complex retail environments.

An Entrepreneurial Journey East

Nearly twenty years ago, Canadian brothers Jacob and Joseph Cooke founded WPIC in China’s capital. Their mission was ambitious: to build a bridge for international brands into the burgeoning, yet notoriously difficult-to-navigate, Chinese e-commerce ecosystem. At a time when many global companies struggled, the Cooke brothers committed to building a solution from the ground up.

They developed the necessary technology, assembled in-market operational teams, and cultivated the deep market expertise that would become the company's hallmark. Today, that small Beijing office has evolved into a multi-national operation with over 300 employees across China, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, having guided more than 650 consumer brands into the APAC market.

“This recognition belongs to every person at WPIC," said Joseph Cooke, President of WPIC Marketing + Technologies. "What Jacob and I started in Beijing twenty years ago has grown into something far larger than either of us imagined, and that growth is entirely the product of the people who joined us and gave this company their best.”

His brother, CEO Jacob Cooke, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the deep personal and professional investment in the region. “It’s our passion to help brands navigate this dynamic region, where we’ve not only worked for over two decades, but also raised our families," he stated. "The Best Companies recognition validates the approach we have taken to strategy, culture, and execution, and reinforces our commitment to helping our clients succeed in markets that demand genuine operational depth.”

The Technology of Trade

Achieving the 'Best Managed' status requires demonstrating superior capabilities and innovation, an area where WPIC has heavily invested. The company offers a proprietary, full-stack e-commerce solution that provides an end-to-end service for brands, covering everything from digital storefront management and AI-powered marketing to cross-border logistics and regulatory compliance.

This integrated approach is critical in a fragmented APAC market where brands must contend with a dizzying array of platforms like Tmall, JD.com, Rakuten, and Douyin. WPIC’s technology stack, including its proprietary data analytics tool "Discripto®," is designed to cut through this complexity. It processes vast amounts of sales, search, and competitor data, providing brands with actionable, real-time insights to optimize their strategy.

“Over the past year, companies such as WPIC Marketing + Technologies have continually adapted and successfully responded to challenges, seized new opportunities, and leveraged industry leading competencies to maximize their investments and drive sustainable growth,” commented Derrick Dempster, Partner at Deloitte Private and Co-Leader of the Canada's Best Managed Companies program.

A cornerstone of WPIC's modern strategy is its mastery of social commerce, particularly livestreaming. The company operates 10 dedicated livestreaming studios across China, which collectively produce over 1,400 hours of content each week on behalf of its brand partners. This capability allows brands to engage directly with consumers in a format that has become a dominant force in Asian retail.

A Culture of Empowerment and Excellence

Beyond technological prowess, the Best Managed program places a strong emphasis on a people-centric culture. Here, WPIC presents a compelling case, particularly through its commitment to gender diversity and female leadership. An extraordinary 80% of the company’s Asia-based team are women, a figure that includes the firm's Chief Financial Officer, Chief Technology Officer, and China Chief Executive Officer.

This is not a recent development. In 2022, WPIC was named the "Best Company for the Advancement of Women (SME)" at the Women Empowerment Awards in China, where it was noted that 87.5% of its leadership team were women. In a tech industry—and a geographic region—where female representation in senior roles still lags, WPIC's statistics are a powerful statement. This commitment to cultivating female talent has been cited as a key driver of innovation and employee retention, creating a uniquely supportive and high-performing corporate culture. This approach directly aligns with the common themes observed among the 2026 cohort of Best Managed winners, who are recognized for fostering people-centric cultures and investing in talent development.

Canada's Bridge to Asia's Digital Future

WPIC's award solidifies its position not just as a successful company, but as a critical facilitator of global trade. The APAC e-commerce market represents a monumental opportunity, with Southeast Asia's market alone projected to grow by over 85% to nearly $290 billion by 2029. However, this growth is paired with immense challenges, including intense local competition, complex regulations, and logistical hurdles.

Companies like WPIC provide the essential infrastructure and intelligence for Western brands to overcome these barriers. They act as a strategic partner, enabling Canadian and other international businesses to tap into a massive and growing consumer base.

The sponsors of the Best Managed program recognize this wider economic impact. “For over three decades, CIBC has proudly sponsored the Best Managed program, supporting companies whose dedication and leadership drive Canada's economic success," said Blair Cowan, Executive Vice-President at CIBC. "This year's winners exemplify what it means to lead with vision and purpose, and we congratulate you on joining a prestigious group of innovators.”

By combining deep in-market expertise with cutting-edge technology and a progressive corporate culture, WPIC Marketing + Technologies has not only built a successful business but has also created a vital economic bridge. Its recognition as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies is an acknowledgment of a two-decade journey that has helped define what it means for a Canadian company to succeed on the global stage.