• by Val Brickates Kennedy , February 26, 2014

The Boston agency universe just became a bit more competitive.

W2O Group announced Wednesday that it is opening up an office in Boston that will focus on the region's core healthcare, technology and financial services sectors. The new outpost will be headed up by digital agency veteran Adam Cohen, who also lists Rosetta and Fleishman-Hillard on his resume. Cohen, a managing director for W2O, will be charged with expanding the agency's presence in the Northeast.

W2O is the parent company of a network of agencies that includes WCG, Twist Mktg and Brewlife. 

The firm could prove to be formidable competition for Boston-area agencies, especially those specializing in healthcare. W2O's forerunner, San Francisco-based WeissComm, has been a major player in the biotech and medical devices arena, particularly on the West Coast. 

“Our goal is to stay ahead of the changing landscape and mix of our business,” said Jim Weiss, chairman and chief executive officer of W2O Group, in a statement. “Given our focus in the health and technology sectors in particular, Boston is a pivotal market that plays to our strengths and perfectly complements our presence in San Francisco, Austin, New York and London. It also allows us to more effectively pursue the large number of consumer brands headquartered in the region.”