Our Team

BUILT ON GREAT PEOPLE AND REAL AMAZON EXPERTS - Icon

BUILT ON GREAT PEOPLE AND REAL AMAZON EXPERTS

Our people are at the heart of our success for you. A team of marketplace veterans from the Amazon frontline, we’ve armed them with all the insights and accreditations you could ever need. We think they’re pretty great. Let’s meet them.

WANT TO JOIN US?

Introducing our Team

Andy Banks

CEO

READ MORE
Andy Banks
Andy Banks

CEO

Andy sets our vision and strategy, as well as guiding our service offering and growth to make sure we’re always where our clients need us to be. A 20-year ecommerce veteran, Andy spotted the opportunity Amazon presented to brands while in his former role as Head of E-Commerce for Matalan, leaving to create Venture Forge after overseeing sales growth of £40m in 12 months. Outside work, Andy is a keen family man and, when not running his young family to football, dancing or gymnastics classes, can be found on his bike, clearing his head and taking on another big challenge for charity.
Jonathan Newton

COO

READ MORE
Jonathan Newton
Jonathan Newton

COO

Jonathan leads all the operational functions of Venture Forge, making sure our service delivery, insights and tech stack are set to exceed our client's expectations in all that we do. Jonathan has led operational change and rigour in a variety of senior retail and digital leadership roles over the past 25 years, working for the likes of Blacks Leisure, Staples & Wilko.com and gaining incredible expertise that we’re delighted he now brings to Venture Forge. At home, he is a keen coin collector, gym bunny, and loves a live performance of any kind.
JOSH MCNEICE

HEAD OF SALES AND MARKETING

READ MORE
JOSH MCNEICE
JOSH MCNEICE

HEAD OF SALES AND MARKETING

Josh heads up our client acquisition strategy, working closely with our new clients to define scopes of work and engaging with our existing clients to identify areas where they could be growing even more! Though relatively new to the world of Amazon, Josh comes to us with an impeccable pedigree in commercial strategy mainly gained in the leisure sector. When he’s not at his desk/ glued to his phone, you’ll either find him on the golf course or chasing his young son around the park!
TRAVIS CHAPPELL

HEAD OF VENDOR SERVICES

READ MORE
TRAVIS CHAPPELL
TRAVIS CHAPPELL

HEAD OF VENDOR SERVICES

Born and raised in South Africa, Travis moved to London in 2019 to start a Brand Specialist role with Amazon’s Vendor Beauty team. After working with some of the world’s largest Beauty brands, Travis shifted his focus to the OTC medicine and Pharmacy sector on Amazon, joining Perrigo as their EU Amazon Channel Manager. His passion for client service sparked his journey into the Amazon agency world, and this continues to thrive at Venture Forge. Outside of work, Travis is a sports enthusiast. When he’s not training in the gym or avoiding being strangled during Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you’ll find him catching up with friends, traveling, or listening to his favourite 80s disco hits and 90s rap tracks.
EMMA PICKARD

HEAD OF SELLER SERVICES

READ MORE
EMMA PICKARD
EMMA PICKARD

HEAD OF SELLER SERVICES

Emma brings over a decade of experience in eCommerce, account management, and client relationships. Born and raised in Cape Town and Dubai, she has led teams, driven growth, and optimised operations across various industries. Emma previously advanced through roles at a leading eCommerce agency, progressing from client relationship management to Account Director, where she managed teams and diverse client portfolios. Her foundation in eCommerce was built at an independent fashion retailer, where she developed a passion for delivering innovative solutions and exceeding client expectations. Outside of work, Emma thrives on water-based challenges—whether it’s swimming with sharks (no cage required) or enjoying the beach, rain or shine.
ROB SMITH

HEAD OF DESIGN

READ MORE
ROB SMITH
ROB SMITH

HEAD OF DESIGN

Rob is responsible for all the creative and design output here at Venture Forge and, with 15 years of working with clients like Huel, UEFA, Red’s True Barbecue and Durham University, he’s definitely well versed in all things design! When parted from his laptop, Rob can be found having fun with his young family, or attempting to cook up a storm in the kitchen whilst listening to a broad range of music. At night, he dreams of playing for his beloved Lincoln City.
JON WARD

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

READ MORE
JON WARD
JON WARD

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

Senior Amazon Account Manager Jon is a time-served Amazon and E-Comm expert, with an impeccable pedigree gained over more than 20 years working across online e-commerce, Amazon and digital marketing. He uses his invaluable knowledge to support both our internal team and our clients, for whom he ensures sales and account growth through optimisation across all their Amazon Accounts. Before joining the Venture Forge team, Jon grew and managed several multi-million pound Amazon accounts, working on both Vendor and Seller Central and across a variety of global Amazon marketplaces. Jon runs his own small home business and outside work enjoys spending time with his family, watching sports and socialising.
REESA ALLEYNE

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

READ MORE
REESA ALLEYNE
REESA ALLEYNE

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

One of our Senior Amazon Account Managers, Reesa manages accounts, implements strategies and supports our clients to successfully reach their goals. An e-commerce veteran, Reesa has previous experience in FMCG through Iceland Foods, added to Seller and Vendor experience through sporting goods and arts and crafts manufacturers. Outside of work, Reesa enjoys reading dystopian and victorian literature, baking and spending time with friends and family.
EMILY POTE

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

READ MORE
EMILY POTE
EMILY POTE

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

Hi, I’m Emily! I have worked with brands on Amazon for over three years. I began as a part-time content executive whilst studying at University, creating high quality Amazon product listings for brands with large catalogues. After graduating, I was hired full-time and received several promotions, developing a focus on the strategy side of marketing; forming and delivering bespoke plans for brands to achieve growth on Amazon. When I’m not at my desk, I enjoy running, snow-sports, watching live music and attempting to follow the most extravagant recipes I can find!
SCOTT PACKWOOD

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

READ MORE
SCOTT PACKWOOD
SCOTT PACKWOOD

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

As a Senior Account Manager, Scott helps drive our clients’ success on all things Amazon. With over a decade of experience in distribution and e-commerce, Scott comes with a wealth of unbeatable knowledge on both Vendor and Seller Central where he has managed multi million pound brands globally. Outside of work he likes to spend his time with his wife, daughter and Rhodesian Ridgeback, Blue. He is a self confessed “golfholic” and an avid reader of sci-fi and fantasy.
ANANDA ETGES

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

READ MORE
ANANDA ETGES
ANANDA ETGES

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

Ananda is a journalist with a digital marketing background. She started to work on Amazon from a brand perspective 4 years ago and became passionate about the marketplace universe. She had the experience to take a company from £0 to 6 digit figures, becoming obsessed with hitting targets. After 6 best months-ever she decided to move to the agency side, appling her knowledge to multiple categories across Amazon. Natural from Brazil, loves spending time with her 3 very active kids exploring the UK. When she is not outside she is in the kitchen testing healthy recipes that she saw on social media.
Jess Parsons

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

READ MORE
Jess Parsons
Jess Parsons

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

With a year of specialised experience in Amazon Vendor Central and six years of account management expertise, Jessica brings a wealth of knowledge to our team. Having worked with major supermarket chains, universities, and NHS trusts, she excels in building strong client relationships and delivering tailored solutions. Outside of work, Jessica embraces her creative side through circus acrobatics and local pantomime performances.
Rachael Blackburn

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

READ MORE
Rachael Blackburn
Rachael Blackburn

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

With over six years of agency experience, Rachel has honed her expertise in Amazon. Whether it’s driving revenue, enhancing brand visibility, or streamlining operations, she is passionate about delivering tangible, impactful results. Outside of work, you’ll often find Rachel exploring thrift stores for vintage treasures, traveling to new cities, cooking delicious vegan meals, or cheering on the Ferrari F1 team.
JAKE BROWETT

PAID ADVERTISING MANAGER

READ MORE
JAKE BROWETT
JAKE BROWETT

PAID ADVERTISING MANAGER

Amazon Advertising aficionado Jake makes sure every Venture Forge client meets the gold standard of Amazon ads, developing and co-ordinating bespoke strategies that focus on profitable growth and always keeping us and our clients on the cutting-edge of the Amazon Ads platform and technology. Over 5 years spent in e-commerce, Jake has driven more than £30m in PPC ad revenue. He joined the Venture Forge team after working in paid marketing for one of the UK’s biggest beauty brands and rapidly settled into agency life, establishing a proven track record of driving consistent growth for our clients in multiple verticals. Always looking for his next challenge, outside work Jake loves to take on something physical and combine it with a bit of fundraising - whether it’s boxing, MMA, marathon running or something equally beast-like!
Elfie Brocklehurst

PAID ADVERTISING MANAGER

READ MORE
Elfie Brocklehurst
Elfie Brocklehurst

PAID ADVERTISING MANAGER

Elfie is a Paid Advertising Manager here at Venture Forge. Beginning her career as a PR Executive with large international chemical companies, she then honed her launch skills as a Marketing Manager specialising in launching new projects, businesses and events. Having worked both in agencies and in-house, in 2019 Elfie began to focus purely on Amazon PPC, and has since been driving growth for large international clients, and using her launch expertise to help small businesses and start-ups make an immediate splash on Amazon marketplace. Here, Elfie manages clients’ advertising campaigns. She designs ad strategies that grow accounts on Amazon, and ensures that ad campaigns always work to realise our clients’ goals. Outside work, Elfie has an adventurous soul. She loves spending time in nature - hiking, wild swimming and paddle boarding. She also loves to work on and write for her blog on ethical consumerism.
TYNELLE GRAHAM

Paid Advertising Assistant

READ MORE
TYNELLE GRAHAM
TYNELLE GRAHAM

Paid Advertising Assistant

Tynelle is the latest addition to our Paid Advertising team, bringing with her a well-earned reputation for meticulous organisation, unwavering hard work, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge. Her passion for mastering new skills and commitment to excellence are the catalysts propelling her forward in her remarkable career journey, now embarking on this thrilling new phase with us. Beyond her professional pursuits, Tynelle is an avid explorer of the great outdoors, with a particular fondness for hill climbing and discovering new coffee haunts. However, when the unpredictable Scottish weather dictates otherwise, she finds solace in the comfort of her home, where she enjoys unwinding on the sofa with her cat and indulging in her love for scary films. In her role, Tynelle is set to employ her exceptional organisational skills and passion for learning to craft and manage impactful advertising campaigns. She is dedicated to leveraging her newfound position to not only grow our clients’ accounts on Amazon but also to ensure that their advertising campaigns align seamlessly with their overarching goals.
WHITNEY GRIFFITHS

MARKETING MANAGER

READ MORE
WHITNEY GRIFFITHS
WHITNEY GRIFFITHS

MARKETING MANAGER

Our Marketing Manager Whitney Griffiths is an accomplished Marketing Specialist, with over 6 years’ experience and a proven track record across industries, using both online and offline marketing strategies. Whitney is process-driven and analytical by nature, and has a flair for harnessing marketing technologies and systems. Beyond the office, you’ll often find her strolling with her beloved French Bulldog, Odin. Cherishing time with her family, and indulging in various pastimes. Whether it’s immersing herself in a book series, playing XBOX or binge-watching a TV series.