O’Dwyer’s Recognizes Walker Sands Communications as One of the Fastest Growing Technology PR Agencies in the U.S.

CHICAGO, IL – (PRWEB) – May 01, 2014 – Walker Sands Communications, a leading technology and business-to-business public relations and digital marketing agency, reports 35.9 percent growth from 2012 to 2013 with the announcement of several client wins. O’Dwyer’s ranked the agency as the No. 8 largest in Chicago and No. 29 on their list of top technology firms nationally. Walker Sands expects to be among the top five agencies in Chicago in 2015. “Chicago is a great agency town and it’s an honor to have broken into the top ten,” said Mike Santoro, president and principal at Walker Sands. “Our success is due to a concentration on exceptional results and a focus on being recognized as a true partner to our clients. Walker Sands’ unique approach is driven by dedicated technology practice areas and cutting-edge digital strategies, combining PR, search and social media services for a truly integrated program.” Walker Sands’ 2013 growth was driven by the addition of several notable clients to the company portfolio, including:

• Newark element14, a high-service distributor of technology products and engineering solutions
• SecureNet Payment Systems, an end-to-end processor of online, in-store and mobile payments
• HarperCollins UK, one of the world’s largest publishing groups
• Yesmail, a leading provider of enterprise email marketing software
• ThinkVine, a marketing mix optimization software company
• Softchoice, a North American IT solutions and services provider

“Walker Sands’ hands-on approach to PR produces excellent results that deliver real impact in both the B2C and B2B space for hybris,” said Geraldine Teboul, director of global communications, hybris software. “The decision to extend and elevate our partnership with Walker Sands was based not only on proven results but also the strong relationship we’ve built, and I look forward to working together in 2014 and beyond.” In 2013 Walker Sands client Acquity Group Ltd., the second-largest independent digital marketing company in the United States, was acquired by Accenture Interactive for $316 million in May; hybris, an e-Commerce software and omnichannel solution, was acquired by SAP in August; and Empathica, a global provider of social Customer Experience Management (CEM) solutions was acquired by Mindshare Technologies in September. “We’ve achieved a reputation for getting results for growth stage tech companies, building marketplace visibility and helping them to get off the ground,” Santoro said. “Walker Sands matches our clients’ goals of acquiring new users, closing new business and gaining exposure with key audiences every step of the way.” Walker Sands added 11 full-time employees to the digital and PR teams in 2013, up to 43 total full-time employees. The agency plans to relocate to a larger office in the Chicago Loop in late 2014 to accommodate an additional 20 hires by mid-2015. “In 2014, our focus as an agency will be expanding our team to better serve our clients and take on new challenges,” said Christine Pietryla, senior vice president of public relations at Walker Sands. “Every year we’ve raised the bar on the level of service we provide our clients. We’re putting in a number of structures to ensure that continues.” Walker Sands has also introduced new training programs, implemented internal committees to promote experience sharing across teams and developed professional development classes to provide junior team members the opportunity to grow with the agency. About Walker Sands Walker Sands is a full-service marketing and public relations firm specializing in media relations for technology companies ranging from startups to enterprise level. With offices in Chicago and San Francisco, Walker Sands was founded in 2001 to provide data-driven marketing support for a wide array of companies with the business mission of providing best-in-class communications counsel and services. In 2013, Walker Sands received recognition from the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies, as well as several other industry-specific awards, such as PRSA Skylines, Hermes and PR Daily, among others. To learn more, visit https://www.walkersands.com.