Cossette’s Industry Leading Social Media Agency Appoints Steve Forde, Channel 4’s Award-Winning New Media Strategist, as Managing Director

LONDON - Rocket XL, a Cossette agency, is bringing its market-leading social media
and online influencer offering to London, and has hired Steve Forde, the
creative force behind London’s Channel 4 TV’s agenda-setting social media
campaigns for Skins and Lost, as Managing Director.

“We believe the compelling point of difference in our offer is the depth
and breadth of proven market leadership we have across our international
offices,” said Craig Howe, the founder and CEO of Rocket XL. “Steve Forde is
a brilliant talent who has delivered great results for Channel 4 and will
fast-track our ability to deliver our full-service model in the UK.”

Rocket XL, which has been a social media pioneer in the US since 2002,
has developed a full-service agency model that encompasses strategy,
creative, production, distribution and ongoing management of social media
activities, all under one roof. The company has completed over 160 social
media campaigns and operates out of offices in Los Angeles, New York, Toronto
and now London.

“I’ve been incredibly impressed with Rocket XL’s approach. The diverse
work they have executed, both in the US and Europe, is just outstanding. I
haven’t seen anything remotely as strategic and impressive from a social
media agency in the UK. To be able to launch their operation here is a
fantastic opportunity for me,” said Forde.

Forde was recruited from Channel 4 TV where as Marketing Manager, New
Media, he won a 2008 Grand Prix Award from the IMA for his social media
strategies to promote “Skins” — a program broadcast to a 16-24 year old
audience. Forde is also acclaimed for his use of the “wisdom of crowds” to
create online strategies such as The Lost Experience, a fan site designed to
maintain audience engagement in additional plot developments for the popular
mystery series.

Rocket XL London will work in conjunction with the Cossette family of
agencies with a close working relationship with digital agency, Dare, forging
a unique offering that layers genuine social media expertise into the broader
remit of digital marketing. Forde will work with Dare’s planning partner,
John Owen, to oversee a seamlessly integrated social media offering. Rocket
XL has already partnered with Dare on acclaimed campaigns, including Johnny X
for Sony Ericsson. Forde will also work closely with Rocket XL’s
international offices in the U.S. and Canada on global projects and brand
strategy.

“Social media is an increasingly important part of the digital marketing
mix. It’s an area that requires genuine specialism, but wouldn’t it be great
if those specialists were integral to the central marketing effort, rather
than being an adjunct to it? That’s what this relationship enables,” said
John Owen, Partner, Dare Digital.

“While many race to get up to speed in the social media space, we are
proud to offer proven best-of-breed specialists that have been at it,
innovating and doing brilliant work for over 7 years,” said Gregor Angus, COO
of Cossette in the UK.

About Rocket XL

Rocket XL is the first truly global social media agency specializing in
the development of organic interactive word-of-mouth campaigns and
cutting-edge, creative web-based applications. With seasoned brand
strategists, social media experts and expansive, diverse technical knowledge,
Rocket XL’s specialized staff is adept at hyper-targeting brand evangelists
online, maximizing their engagement, and delivering measurable results.

Global work conducted by Rocket XL includes: Unilever (Dove Real Beauty
Campaign), Activision (Guitar Hero III, Call of Duty 4), Procter & Gamble
(Pampers & Luvs), Converse (Artist Inspired Shoes Launch), and the United
Nations (UNIFEM: Stop Violence Against Women). Rocket XL has also received a
Silver Anvil award for work on Blockbuster: Total Access, and was part of the
Pampers agency team involved in the blogger event Neilsen recognized as one
of “Seven Marketing Campaigns that Inspired in 2008″ (Rocket XL/PainePR
Pampers Mummy Blogger Event).

Rocket XL’s global headquarters is in Los Angeles, with North American
client services offices in New York and Toronto. Rocket XL’s European
operation is based in London, with a web development studio in Stockholm.

PEOPLE FROM COSSETTE

COSSETTE offers a full range of leading-edge communications services to
clients of all sizes, including some of the most prestigious brands in the
world. A customer-driven organization built around highly specialized
business units, COSSETTE also offers Convergent Communications(TM), a unique
working method that brings added value to the client by integrating various
services offered by the group, including strategic planning and research
services, advertising, media planning and buying, sales promotion, customer
relationship management, database and direct marketing, interactive and
technological marketing solutions, public relations and alliance marketing,
branding and design, ethnic marketing, sports marketing, branded content and
product placement, and business-to-business communications. COSSETTE has
approximately 1,650 employees and offices in Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto,
Vancouver, Halifax, New York, Irvine, Los Angeles, London, Moscow and
Shanghai.

Technorati: social media, digital marketing, rocketxl, cossette,
marketing, digital, PR

Source: Rocket XL

Steve Forde, +447920007293, Stevie.forde at gmail.com, for Rocket XL