Accredited Google Partner Search Laboratory strengthens marketplace division with new appointment

Leeds-based digital agency, Search Laboratory, has made a move to strengthen its service offering and expand its online marketplace presence through the appointment of a new Head of Marketplaces

Leeds-based digital agency, Search Laboratory, has made a move to strengthen its service offering and expand its online marketplace presence through the appointment of a new Head of Marketplaces. In a first for the agency, the newly created role sees George Walne, a marketplaces specialist with more than five years’ sector experience, take up the helm in a bid to build on the company’s current marketplace offering.

Having headed up marketplace teams in-house at some of the biggest brands in the UK and Australia, including Petbarn, Bestway, Lay-Z-Spa, Toyrific, VW and Osprey Action Sports, George brings a wealth of knowledge to the role. This, coupled with his excellent industry connections within Amazon, allows the agency to offer a full range of Amazon services.

The newly created role comes after Search Laboratory experienced a huge surge in demand from brands looking to improve their presence on marketplace sites such as Amazon and eBay. The agency will see its current capability expanded with George’s expertise in Amazon Advertising, brand store development, and both organic and paid listing strategies.

George comments: “My new position at Search Laboratory offers a fantastic opportunity to build on the exceptional reputation of the agency. I want to help by expanding the services on offer to current and potential clients alike, and broaden the whole marketplace offering at the agency.

“I’m excited to get to work across such a broad spectrum of clients and industries, and to be able to offer new opportunities to brands to widen their online presence with the likes of Amazon and eBay. I’m also looking forward to bringing in a B2B offering too, through my knowledge of the eBay marketplace.”

Pete Whitmarsh, Head of Paid Media at Search Laboratory, comments on George’s new appointment: “The marketplace team at Search Laboratory has seen a huge increase in demand over recent months, and we know there is an opportunity to grow and strengthen this element of the agency, and we’re delighted to be expanding the team and welcoming George into his new position.

“George’s passion for the sector and previous experience working for global brands across both paid and organic marketplace strategies impressed us, and we’re looking forward to being able to offer an even greater range of services to clients as a result of his expertise; we’ll be providing both B2C and B2B services across Amazon and eBay, and with George’s proven track record in getting his previous clients top-listed in a variety of marketplace categories, we have every confidence he’ll help Search Laboratory to continue to expand in this arena.”

The 150 strong agency is widely recognised as one of the world’s finest digital operators priding its service offering on innovative, agile and holistic digital marketing, including analytics and data science, SEO, PPC, social media and programmatic display. The business’ excellent reputation is in part due to the global brands the agency works with, in addition to being awarded several impressive accolades and being one of only a small handful of agencies in the UK accredited with official Google Marketing Platform Sales Partner status.