Launch, the performance marketing agency Powered by Happiness™, has appointed Rich Kimber as head of growth.
Rich will be responsible for developing partnerships with other specialist agencies and delivering on the agency’s ambitious five-year growth plan. Reporting directly to Launch’s CEO, Jaye Cowle, he will be pivotal in effectively communicating the agency’s market presence, building further awareness of the team’s in-depth performance marketing expertise and showcasing its exceptional award-winning work. His main objective is to ensure even more growth-focused ecommerce and travel brands have access to the very best in impactful and effective full-funnel performance marketing.
Rich will work closely with client services director, Amy Budd, to support, and build on, Launch’s existing portfolio of household names including Weird Fish, Icelandair, and Piglet in Bed. At the same time they will work in collaboration to evolve, innovate and expand on Launch’s services and capabilities, placing client happiness and full-funnel growth at the centre of Launch’s offering.
With over 15 years’ experience both agency and client side, Rich joins Launch from Melt Digital, where, as commercial director, he supported the growth of high-profile ecommerce clients including The Cotswold Company and Muddy Puddles.
Rich previously served as head of content at Melt Digital (he returned to the company in 2023) where he focused on SEO strategy and implementation. In this position he led a team of writers and editors to deliver large-scale content projects for clients including Expedia and the Daily Mail Group, and advised on strategy for brands including News UK and Spire Healthcare. He also oversaw the creative ideation for digital PR clients such as Netflights.
Additionally, Rich has held in-house senior leadership roles at companies including start-ups SquareBook and Havr.
Jaye Cowle, CEO at Launch explained: “It’s been a phenomenal thirteen years resulting in a 24% year-on-year revenue growth in 2024 alone. But our work at Launch is certainly not done. With a highly ambitious growth plan ready to go, we needed a head of growth who not only had the experience, but the ambition, tenacity and most importantly hunger to help us deliver for our clients, prospects and people. I believe we’ve found this in Rich – not only is he exceptionally talented, but he’s a pleasure to work with. I can’t wait for the industry to see what we can achieve. Watch this space.”
Rich Kimber added: “After being introduced to Jaye by a mutual contact in summer 2024, I was hugely impressed by both her ambition and the sheer talent of the Launch team. The agency’s ‘Powered by Happiness™’mission immediately struck a personal chord, and Launch has consistently proven that it’s not just great for people, but great for business. I knew I wanted to be part of it ensuring Launch becomes a force to be reckoned with in the UK performance marketing industry. Brands are crying out for a trusted agency partner that will really listen and understand them, while combining that human touch with monumentally brilliant skills in strategy and implementation. The team at Launch have a lot to say, and the expertise in paid, measurement and experimentation to back it up. I’m really excited to be able to support Jaye and the SLT to lead the agency into this exciting next chapter of growth.”