Cossette Communications Group has a bought a majority-ownership stake in Rocket XL, an online firm specializing in social media and interactive word-of-mouth marketing. The firm will work with Cossette Communications’ business units in the US market and abroad to bring innovative digital online and influencer marketing programs to the company’s client bases, starting in New York, along with Cossette’s US PR agency, Paine PR.

Colin Schleining, COO for Cossette Communication USA, tells MiC that Rocket’s services, once established with US operations, will be accessible by Cossette’s Canadian offices. ‘We’ll make sure that Rocket is well integrated into our operations in the United States,’ says Schleining. ‘That will be our first priority. But we definitely see this as an opportunity to extend our service offerings to our Canadian clients.’

Rocket XL is an agency comprising former marketing execs and video game developers. Since 2003, it has worked on various brand assignments, from new product launches to Fortune 500 companies, including Sony Playstation, HBO, Activision, Marshalls/TJX and Comcast.

Rocket XL CEO Craig Howe says joining Cossette ‘enables us to broaden the scope of creativity and innovation to more companies and brands looking to use digital media in more meaningful and effective ways. Our commitment as part of Cossette is to push the boundaries in this space and offer our clients the unique ability to converse with online influencers using the most advanced strategies and technologies available.’