Middlesbrough-based digital marketing agency Outrank has announced a major expansion of its business, welcoming 10 new hires in the past month, including two board appointments to the leadership team.
Joining as a non-executive advisor is David Crawford, former CEO of Branded3, one of the UK’s most respected search and digital agencies. Crawford brings extensive experience in scaling search-led businesses, alongside deep expertise in SEO as a performance channel. He will provide strategic oversight across growth, positioning and operational development, working closely with the leadership team to support Outrank’s continued evolution.
The agency has also appointed experienced M&A specialist Amit Aggarwal to its advisory board, bringing nearly three decades of experience across leading financial institutions, including JPMorgan, Baugur Group and PwC. Having advised privately-owned, private equity-backed and listed businesses on growth strategy, his appointment is expected to play a key role in shaping Outrank’s next phase of expansion.
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Founder Stephen Robinson said: “We’ve always been ambitious about where we want to take the business, and bringing in the right people at board level is critical to doing that in the right way. David’s experience in building and scaling a leading search agency adds an important dimension, particularly as we continue to strengthen our offering in SEO and performance marketing. Amit brings a huge amount of commercial experience and strategic insight, and his input is already helping us think bigger about the future of Outrank.”
Aggarwal added: “Outrank has built a strong foundation, combining technical expertise with a clear focus on delivering results for clients. There’s a real energy and ambition within the business, and I’m looking forward to supporting the team as they scale and continue to evolve their offering.”
Crawford said: “Outrank has a strong platform to build from, with clear strengths in search and a leadership team that understands where it wants to go. I’m looking forward to working with the business at a strategic level, helping to refine its positioning, strengthen its operational approach and support its continued growth in an increasingly competitive and fast-moving digital landscape.”
Alongside its board appointments, the business has also welcomed an additional eight new recruits across a range of roles, further enhancing its capabilities in SEO, web development, social media and AI-led technology.
The latest hires build on Outrank’s existing team of more than 60, reflecting a period of sustained growth for the agency as it continues to expand its client base and service offering.
Outrank’s approach to recruitment focuses on identifying and developing talent rather than hiring solely to fill vacancies. This has enabled the agency to scale while maintaining a strong, collaborative culture.
Operations Director Francesca Kosina said: “We’re proud to be creating opportunities in the region and attracting people who want to be part of something we’re building long-term.”
