Digital marketing firm COCG is acquired

Raleigh digital marketing agency COCG expects to add about 30 employees over the next six months – nearly doubling in size — after being acquired by a Denver company that focuses on online marketing for healthcare providers.

“We’re looking to scale pretty quickly,” said Maggie Mae Armstrong, project manager for COCG. “We’re looking to expand our space because of it.”

Financial details of COCG’s acquisition by Healthgrades, a privately held company, were not disclosed. Healthgrades has provided markting strategies for more than 500 hospitals nationwide and operates an online directory of healthcare providers.

COCG, which was formed in 2006 and changed its name from Click Optimize earlier this year, is retaining its 35 employees and its senior management, including Tim Payne, the company’s founder and president. Payne is now senior vice president of digital strategy for Healthgrades.

Although COCG was planning to do some hiring when it was a stand-alone company, its acquisition by COCG “lighted a fire under us” because of the additional work Healthgrades is sending its way, Armstrong said.

The COCG brand is being continued under the new ownership.

COCG and Healthgrades got to know each other as they worked alongside each other for some mutual clients.

“Healthgrades was really looking for some of the digital services we offer,” Armstrong said. “It seemed like a natural fit to combine forces.”

COCG will continue to work with existing and new clients outside the health care arena, Armstrong said.

In announcing the acquisition earlier this month, Healthgrades said adding COCG would help it “meet the growing needs of its hospital clients.”

This story was originally published November 18, 2014 at 1:56 PM with the headline "Digital marketing firm COCG is acquired."