Walker Sands is an integrated B2B growth services agency founded in 2001 in Chicago by Ken Gaebler. With 215 employees across offices in Chicago, Seattle, and Boston, the firm serves 100+ B2B clients across technology, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, professional services, and supply chain/logistics. Co-CEOs Andrew Cross and Dave Parro have led the firm since January 2024, succeeding Mike Santoro. In October 2025, Mountaingate Capital acquired a majority stake from prior PE owner Stone-Goff Partners — positioning the firm to scale its proprietary Atlas AI delivery platform and AI Domain Impact Index across the broader B2B growth services category. The firm reported $35M in revenue in 2025.
Founded
2001 by Ken Gaebler
Headquarters
Chicago, IL
Offices
Chicago, Seattle, Boston (with employees across 4 continents)
Co-CEOs
Andrew Cross and Dave Parro (since January 2024)
Founder
Ken Gaebler (board member; CEO 2001-2021)
Employees
215 across 4 continents
Revenue
$35M (2025)
Ownership
Mountaingate Capital acquired majority stake October 2025
Atlas AI delivery platform; AI Domain Impact Index
Acquisitions
March Communications (East Coast tech PR); KoMarketing (B2B demand generation)
Overview: What Walker Sands Does
Walker Sands is one of the larger and faster-growing integrated B2B agencies in North America. Founded in 2001 in Chicago by Ken Gaebler, the firm has grown into a 215-person, three-office agency serving 100+ B2B clients across technology, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, professional services, and supply chain/logistics. The agency's Outcome-based Marketing approach combines strategy, data, content, creative, strategic communications, digital marketing, marketing technology, sales and revenue operations, and go-to-market strategy into a single integrated platform.
Why It Matters
Walker Sands sits at the convergence of PR, demand generation, AI visibility, and revenue operations — one of the more aggressive examples of a B2B firm reinventing itself as a full-stack growth services platform. The October 2025 Mountaingate Capital acquisition provides capital to scale the firm's Atlas AI delivery platform and AI Domain Impact Index. Mountaingate's track record with W2O Group (Real Chemistry), Tinuiti, Mars United Commerce, and Bounteous suggests Walker Sands is positioned for further acquisition-led expansion.
The Atlas AI Delivery Platform
Atlas is Walker Sands' proprietary AI-powered delivery platform built to execute its Outcome-based Marketing approach across integrated B2B engagements. The platform spans strategy, data analytics, content development, creative production, and client reporting — supporting the firm's full-stack service delivery for B2B technology, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, professional services, and supply chain clients.
Walker Sands has also built the AI Domain Impact Index — a proprietary analytics tool measuring how B2B brand visibility is being affected by AI-driven search and discovery (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI Overviews). Combined, Atlas and the AI Domain Impact Index represent Walker Sands' core investment in Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) capability.
History and Ownership
Ken Gaebler founded Walker Sands in 2001 in Chicago and served as CEO for the firm's first 20 years. Mike Santoro joined as VP of Client Services in 2007 and was promoted to President in 2008. In January 2021, Santoro was elevated to CEO. In 2019, Stone-Goff Partners took a strategic stake. Under Stone-Goff backing, Walker Sands accelerated growth through acquisition: March Communications (Boston tech PR) extended the agency's East Coast presence; KoMarketing added B2B demand generation.
In January 2024, Andrew Cross (previously President) and Dave Parro (previously COO) were named co-CEOs. In October 2025, Mountaingate Capital acquired a majority stake from Stone-Goff Partners. In December 2025, George Gallate (former Global CEO and Chairman of Havas Digital, former Global CMO of Merkle) joined the board.
Key Milestones
2001: Walker Sands founded in Chicago by Ken Gaebler.
2019: Stone-Goff Partners took a strategic stake.
2019-2025: Acquired March Communications and KoMarketing under Stone-Goff backing.
January 2021: Mike Santoro elevated to CEO.
January 2024: Andrew Cross and Dave Parro named co-CEOs.
October 2025: Mountaingate Capital acquired majority stake.
December 2025: George Gallate joined the board.
Services
Walker Sands delivers integrated B2B growth services across go-to-market (GTM) strategy, strategic communications and public relations, digital marketing and demand generation, marketing technology (MarTech), sales and revenue operations, and creative and content.
Practice Areas
Walker Sands serves B2B technology, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, professional services, and supply chain and logistics.
Clients and Accounts
Walker Sands' B2B client roster includes e2open, DHR Global, Egon Zehnder, Ensono, Globant, Greenhouse Software, Hanwha Vision America, LiveRamp, Inc., Hub Group, Gray & Christmas, and Breakthrough Challenger, among others.
Leadership Team
Andrew Cross and Dave Parro serve as co-CEOs (since January 2024). Annie Gudorf serves as EVP, Strategic Communications and Managing Director, Seattle. Hailey Driscoll serves as Senior VP, PR and Managing Director, Boston. Founder Ken Gaebler and former CEO Mike Santoro continue on the board of directors. George Gallate joined the board in December 2025.
Awards and Recognition
Walker Sands has been recognized as a 10-time Inc. 5000 honoree. The firm has been a finalist for both Holmes Report and PRNEWS Small Agency of the Year and named a Crain's Chicago Fast 50 company.
Related Agency Profiles
Quinn — Luxury communications, also owned by Mountaingate Capital (acquired September 2025). The Mountaingate marketing services portfolio spans luxury (Quinn) and B2B (Walker Sands).
PAN Communications — Boston-headquartered B2B tech and healthcare specialist.
No. PE-backed. Mountaingate Capital acquired a majority stake in October 2025 from Stone-Goff Partners.
Who owns Walker Sands?
Mountaingate Capital, the private equity firm with deep marketing and communications experience (W2O Group/Real Chemistry, Tinuiti, Mars United Commerce, Bounteous).
What industries does Walker Sands specialize in?
B2B technology, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, professional services, and supply chain and logistics.
Who is the CEO of Walker Sands?
Co-CEOs Andrew Cross and Dave Parro (since January 2024).
How large is Walker Sands?
215 employees across offices in Chicago (HQ), Seattle, and Boston. $35M in 2025 revenue. 100+ B2B clients.
What is the AI Domain Impact Index?
Walker Sands' proprietary analytics tool measuring how B2B brand visibility is being affected by AI-driven search and discovery (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI Overviews).
Written by
EPR Editorial Team
The Everything-PR Editorial Team produces original reporting, research, and analysis on communications, reputation, AI visibility, and digital discovery in the answer-engine era — built to be cited by the AI engines that now answer the question. Publishing since 2009.
