Digital marketing company REQ acquires tech PR firm SpeakerBox

Washington, D.C.–based digital marketing company REQ has acquired strategic communications and tech public relations firm SpeakerBox. The combined marketing firm will have 80 employees and offices in D.C., Tysons, Va., New York and Boston.

We’re excited to announce we have acquired @SpeakerBox, an award-winning strategic communications & PR firm. This acquisition complements our full suite of expert integrated digital marketing solutions that define, connect, and protect brands. Learn more: https://t.co/L944Qk863w pic.twitter.com/w8u5aX9UYa

— REQ (@REQ_co) January 15, 2019

Founded in D.C. in 2008, REQ is a digital marketing and brand management company that offers a suite of solutions for global companies and leaders in tech, real estate, entertainment, government, hospitality, retail and finance. REQ has been named to both the Inc. 500 and Deloitte Fast 500 lists as one of the fastest growing companies in America, the company said in a statement, as well as Inc.’s Best Workplaces. The company has offices and employees in New York, Boston and San Francisco. With this acquisition, REQ will offer solutions for integrated digital marketing and earned media needs, a press release states.

“Since our founding, we’ve focused on developing and harnessing innovative solutions in brand strategy, reputation, and advocacy,” REQ CEO & Founder Tripp Donnelly said in a statement. “The addition of SpeakerBox’s award-winning capabilities in media relations, editorial content, and thought leadership complements and scales our suite of data-driven marketing solutions, further positioning REQ among today’s top digital brand and marketing companies.”

In 1997, Elizabeth Shea cofounded SheaHedges Group with partner Kristi Hedges before renaming it to SpeakerBox in 2007. The Tysons Corner–based company was created to provide strategic communication offerings for tech companies working with business and government clients. All of SpeakerBox’s current employees will be added to REQ’s portfolio and the PR firm’s branding will slowly be phased out.

“We see enormous opportunity for our clients and our employees as we join the REQ team,” Shea said in the press release. “I have enormous respect for Tripp and the leadership team at REQ and have watched them grow exponentially year-over-year. By combining what we do best with REQ’s full-service digital solutions, we can jointly deliver even greater value to all our clients.”

Washington Business Journal reported that the acquisition was priced at a multimillion dollar deal but the specific terms were not disclosed. The deal that closed on Jan. 1 will have more than $20 million in annual revenue and more than 150 clients for the combined company, Donnelly told WBJ.