The Publicis-owned media agency ZenithOptimedia has announced that Performics, the “search and performance marketing” firm Publicis acquired from Google in 2008, has come to Canada.

Performics offers search engine marketing and optimization, mobile and social media marketing and display advertising services, among others.

Performics has been operating as part of Publicis in the U.S. since its acquisition. And now, as part of what the company is calling an “ambitious” global expansion, Canada is one of 14 new markets into which the service will be introduced, with former ZedDigital offices folded into the new Performics offering.

ZenithOptimedia also announced that Andras Vigh has been made managing director worldwide for Performics reporting directly to Steve King, global CEO of ZenithOptimedia.

“We are seeing an increased demand for measurable search and performance marketing solutions,” ZenithOptimedia said, in a statement. “We are now perfectly poised to capture growth in the search and performance markets in 2011 and beyond. This will allow us to build our expertise and complements our digital offering.”

According to ZenithOptimedia’s latest ad spending forecast, released in December, global paid search spending in 2010 was more than $30.5 billion and should suprass $46 billion by 2013.

“Advertisers should be poised to capture the expanding search market in 2011 and beyond,” said Fred Joseph, worldwide chief digital officer for ZenithOptimedia, in a release. “Clients are demanding best in class specialized skills and seamless digital integration. A worldwide network solidifies Performics as an international marketing agency and allows it to deliver against both objectives.”