Wesley Dunton

Entrepreneurial Digital Growth Director and Growth Marketing leader with 20 years' experience building and scaling digital businesses, acquisition engines and revenue-generating digital ecosystems across B2C, B2B, PPC, SEM, PR, D2C, SaaS, and global and affiliate markets. Always excited to work as either a director, manager, or hands-on level, to make sure the job gets done. Proven hands-on track record of turning digital strategy into measurable commercial growth, combining Growth Marketing, technical and commercial SEO, performance marketing, UX, content, brand and digital transformation.

Particularly experienced in building organic acquisition engines that generate sustained traffic, leads and revenue alongside paid and partnership-led growth. A proven start-up and scale-up leader, having co-founded and co-founded and responsible for growing multiple website marketing brands (HQ Therapy. Kontraband, Smash, Diffusion Media Group, The 7th Chamber and Noodle Media.

Experience includes businesses reaching 30M+ monthly users, major global brand marketing and successful exits to large companies.

Digital Strategy & Marketing Director at HQ THERAPY (2020-07 – Present)

Multi-award-winning mental health therapy provider operating across B2C, D2C and B2B markets.

• Led and ran from start-up to present, all areas of digital growth, Growth Marketing, SEO and commercial marketing strategy across acquisition, content, UX, brand and partnerships. Recruited and trained a great team as we grew.
• Grew annual revenue by 700% in the first 18 months from start-up through digital acquisition, SEO, growth, creative strategy, social channel collaborations, and marketing and B2B partnerships.
• Delivered 60%+ annual website traffic growth since start-up through technical SEO, content, UX and organic growth.
• Increased inbound enquiries by 30%+ year-on-year and organic leads by approximately 25%+ annually.
• Built a low-cost D2C acquisition model that grew and became one of the company's most profitable revenue streams.
• Managed to maintain broadly the same marketing budget for four years while continuing to deliver strong growth through organic acquisition and B2B collaborations.
• Was responsible for scaling the organization from 2 to 150+ people, supporting the digital and commercial infrastructure required for rapid growth.
• Direct multi-channel Growth Marketing and PR across platforms like Meta, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and collaborations.
• Responsible for designing, building and launching an AI website that’s over 90% automated for therapists, staff and clients. Use of AEO for automated Schema, technical SEO areas and internal link building.

Co-Founder & Digital Marketing Strategy Director at NOODLE MEDIA (2001-12 – 2023-11)

• Created and ran an award-winning digital marketing agency delivering global campaigns for major consumer brands.
• Built and grew a marketing platform delivering digital campaigns across all channels for viral, social and other high-end campaigns, including Sony, Samsung, Amazon, Nintendo, Intel, Apple, BBC, Disney and Greenpeace (and many others).
• Developed Growth Marketing and SEO strategies focused on audience acquisition, engagement and commercial outcomes. Collaborated when needed on very large campaigns with my partner company connections.
• Led technical SEO, content, UX and website strategies when needed, combining acquisition with conversion optimization.
• Worked directly with major brands and senior stakeholders to translate commercial objectives into digital campaigns.
• BAFTA nominee for Best Online video Game — FIFA World Cup 2002 Mascot Zone.
• Exited and closed the company in early 2023, mainly due to Brexit, Covid 19 and more time to commit to HQ Therapy.

Co-Founder & Digital Growth Director at SMASH (2014-06 – 2020-04)

• Managing Director of an Angel-Invested global entertainment start-up with offices in New York, LA, London and Toronto.
• Co-founded & managed an international entertainment platform from launch, targeting swift traffic & marketing growth.
• Used my previous start-up experience skills and achieved 11 million unique monthly users within the first year.
• Increased advertising revenue by 60%+ month-on-month through SEO-led content strategy and performance marketing.
• Led SEO, UX/UI, paid media & brand growth strategies across international markets. Trained our team to help deploy.
• Successfully exited at our peak via a sale to an American company in 2020.

Digital Growth & SEO Consultant at ROCKARCHIVE (2012-11 – 2021-03)

Global Music Photography Archive and e-commerce platform in need of increased traffic, sales & growth strategy.

• Led strategic rebuild of B2C, D2C and B2B website using Umbraco.
• Integrated technical SEO, information architecture, content, UX and conversion optimization.
• Managed to achieve 500% website traffic growth and significant recurring sales and revenue growth.
• Returned on a fractional contract to increase recurring revenue by 35% through organic acquisition & marketing strategy.

Co-Founder & Growth Director at KONTRABAND (2003 – 2009)

• Built one of the world's largest entertainment websites for the 18–34 market, reaching 30M+ monthly users at peak.
• Led team and increased audience acquisition, content creation, SEO and uplifted commercial marketing growth.
• Successfully exited via sale to Dennis Publishing in 2009.

Digital Strategy & Brand Growth Consultant at DIFFUSION MEDIA GROUP (2006 – 2012)

• Co-founded an award-winning digital media and direct marketing agency delivering large-scale brand campaigns.
• Led digital strategy, Growth Marketing and commercial growth.
• Named among the UK's fastest-growing digital media companies by Momentum Worldwide in 2008 and 2009.

Co-Founder & Digital Strategy Director at THE 7TH CHAMBER (2005 – 2012)

• Built global digital video distribution campaigns using bespoke targeting and reporting technology.
• Generated seven-figure annual returns at its peak.

Senior Marketing & SEO Consultant at Benyfit Natural (2009 – 2010)

Fractional consultant responsible for growth Marketing, SEO, Shopify, content & social strategy for a D2C e-comms brand.

Digital Strategy & Brand Growth Consultant at Seetec Group (2017 – 2018)

Fractional consultant for digital growth, SEO, UX and website strategy for a UK organization with 1,500+ employees.

Fractional consultant for Website Management & Marketing at Dennis Publishing (2009 – 2010)

Animation & Video Director at Sensible Software (2006 – 2009)

Commercial Photographer & Video Director (1996 – 2006)

BA (Hons) in Photography – University of Essex