Venture Forge strengthens leadership team

Amazon growth specialist Venture Forge, headquartered in Halifax, has appointed marketing leader Stephen Kenwright as fractional chief commercial officer as the agency prepares for its next phase of growth.

Stephen will lead the company’s new business and marketing functions, helping to shape its commercial strategy, expand market presence and support continued growth.

He brings almost 20 years of commercial, digital and agency leadership experience, including founding award-winning agency Rise at Seven in 2019. 

During his time there, he helped grow the business to annual revenues of more than £7 million, employing 110 people across offices in Sheffield, Manchester, London and New York before exiting after three years.

Stephen currently works as a non-executive director and business development consultant to a number of agencies and is also the founder of the SearchLeeds conference.

He said: “I had no plans to return to the fray in a chief commercial officer role, but the opportunity  with Venture Forge was too good to pass up.

“I was excited to get deep into Amazon, since I feel like I’ve only  scratched the surface in my previous companies, plus working with Andy  and Jonathan, who’ve been friends of friends for a long time – and experienced retailers in their own rights – has been a great experience  over the last few weeks.

“Most of all, it feels like an agency in its ascendency – and one where I can make a significant difference.”

Founded in 2018 by former heads of e-commerce Andrew Banks and Jonathan Newton, Venture Forge has grown to a team of 21 and supports brands including Thermos, VAX, John Cotton and Glen Dimplex in maximising sales and profitability on Amazon.

Andrew added: “Stephen isn’t a stranger – he’s someone Jonathan and I have known of and rated for years.

“So this was never just about hiring a chief commercial officer. 

“It’s about the right person arriving at exactly the right moment: the point where our commercial ambition has outgrown what two founders can carry alone.

“Having an operator of his pedigree choose us tells us everything about where Venture Forge is heading.”

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