Digital Shop Piston Acquired By Lewis PR

San Diego-based digital agency Piston has been acquired by Lewis PR for an undisclosed price, the companies confirmed Monday. The deal closed last week. 

Piston specializes in digital marketing including SEO, SEM and display advertising, media planning and buying, analytics and creative design services. With 2014 revenues totaling $8.4 million, the digital shop’s clients include AAA, AARP, BareMinerals, Cars.com, Intuit, Inspirato, Mophie, Shiseido, SkullCandy, Sunglass Hut, TVG and Yakult. 

Lewis said the deal strengthens its digital capabilities, moving it into paid media advertising and deepening its creative and analytics services. Piston, in turn gets access to Lewis’ global network of 28 offices across the U.S., Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. 

Piston will operate under Lewis Pulse, the agency’s digital marketing arm, alongside web design firm Purestone. 

Piston, which now has 50 San Diego-based staffers, was founded by Michael Chaney, CEO, and John Hartman, president, in 2008. Hartman will continue to run Piston as a division within Lewis Pulse with Chaney taking a non-executive role. Hartman will report to Stephen Corsi, SVP of Lewis Pulse.   

“Our clients are looking for integrated communications campaigns,” said Corsi. “We’re seeing a huge uptick in demand for paid media programs -- search engine marketing, online advertising [and] mobile programs. Piston combines the three things you need to get that right -- strong creative, strategic media-buying at scale with deep analytics. Piston works with tier-one brands, and has a reputation which rivals the establishment. Together we’ll disrupt the industry much faster.” 

Lewis, with regional headquarters in London, San Francisco and Singapore, now has global revenues in excess of $72 million including U.S. revenues of more than $37 million. Previous acquisitions include Leads United, PageOne PR, DMG, Purestone and EBA. Lewis PR was advised by McCracken Advisory Partners. The company said it expects to make more acquisitions this year. 

In addition to traditional media and analyst relations, Lewis specializes in social media, digital marketing and creative services. It works with brands across sectors including automotive, consumer, government, healthcare, insurance, legal, non-profit, technology and telecom. 

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