Integrated marketing agency Cogent has today announced its acquisition of Solihull-based communications firm NC Creative Group.

The move bolsters Cogent’s rapidly growing B2B offering, placing the agency among the top 10 B2B agencies in the UK.

Along with its B2C offer, Cogent’s B2B client portfolio has gone from strength to strength in recent years, with current clients including nPower Business Solutions, Rexel, ATOS, REHAU, QED, Salary Finance and Omega plc.

As part of the acquisition deal, NC Creative’s client base including Volvo Bus, Sandvik and the Commercial Vehicle Show, move to Cogent.

Cogent chief executive, Bruce Hutton, said: “This deal is the latest in a line of positive changes for Cogent. In the last couple of years we have invested in our people, evolved our brand, introduced our ‘togetherness’ culture and won some brilliant new clients along the way.

“We are passionate about developing our integrated marketing offer and this acquisition accelerates our growth in the B2B marketplace, with our B2B clients now representing around 30% of our total business.

“The team, culture and clients at NC Creative are a great fit with Cogent, and together we will continue to build on our success in the B2B market.”

All NC Creative’s clients will continue to enjoy the same high levels of creative output and service delivery, while at the same time benefitting from the enhanced scale and resources of the Cogent Group.

Richard Smith, NC Creative founder and CEO said: “Cogent is a very well established and respected marketing agency with exciting growth plans and there is an excellent strategic and cultural fit that underpins this agreement. I believe that this is an extremely positive development for our clients and staff alike and represents an exciting new chapter for the business.”

The 12-strong NC Creative team, now based at Cogent’s HQ in the Midlands, brings the total headcount to 100 staff. Richard Smith will work with Cogent as a senior consultant.