• by Larissa Faw , October 31, 2019

Independent Chicago marketing agencies Sandstorm and the Jacobs Agency are merging under the Sandstorm moniker.

This deal combines the "creative reputation of the Jacobs Agency with the data-driven digital and user experience expertise of Sandstorm," explains Sandy Marsico, founder of Sandstorm. 

"It is really the case when one plus one equals three," she said. “We partnered with Jacobs Agency a number of times over the years and along the way I got to know [Jacobs Agency Founder] Tom [Jacobs],” she says. “In that time, we learned we have very similar approaches to leading people, serving clients and running a business: do good work for good people.”

The combined agency will employ a team of 40, and there are currently several open positions to handle its continued growth.

The Jacobs team will relocate into Sandstorm's Chicago headquarters. Currently the agency has team members operating satellite offices in Charlotte, Dallas, Denver and Seattle.

The agencies’ combined client roster includes Chicago Skyway, Crown Holdings, Heartland Financial, the National Association of Realtors, Now Foods, Peoples Gas and Treehouse Foods.

Marsico will remain Sandstorm’s CEO and Jacobs will become president. Their leadership team will include Andrea Wood continuing as managing director. Creative will be led by Janna Fiester, strategy by Susan Saltwell and business development by Amanda Heberg.