Our Team

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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.

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Introducing our Team

Andy Banks

CEO

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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

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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

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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!
BECCA WOOLIN

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR

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BECCA WOOLIN
BECCA WOOLIN

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR

Our brilliant Account Director Becca brings a different take to Amazon, thanks to her history in photography, design and marketing. Added to 8 years working across a wide range of categories, inventory sizes and fulfilment methods in the Amazon space, Becca has developed a unique talent for building client strategies that promote growth while also evaluating brand positioning. Leading our team of Senior Account Managers, Becca is responsible for their client results and satisfaction, and also runs her own flagship client for Venture Forge. As part of our Senior Leadership team, she works alongside Andy and Jonathan to grow and develop the future of Venture Forge. Recently married to her “bearded wonder” (aaw!), she drinks far too much tea, constantly listens to throwback Thursday without even a hint of irony, binge-watches comedy series and has a “teeny-tiny” online shopping and lipstick obsession…
ROB SMITH

HEAD OF DESIGN

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.
Matt Briggs

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

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Matt Briggs
Matt Briggs

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

Matt has over five years’ experience working with Amazon on both Vendor and Seller Central. Matt has worked with a multitude of clients ranging from multimillion pound consumer electronic brands to start ups looking to establish brand presence on Amazon. Matt has experience of working with Amazon at manufacturer, agency and distribution level. In his spare time, Matt enjoys getting outdoors and participating in endurance events such as running and triathlon. When he is not outdoors exercising he can be found down the pub or binge watching his favorite series.
JAKE BROWETT

PAID ADVERTISING MANAGER

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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

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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

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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

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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.