Stephen Kenwright, co-founder of Rise at Seven and founder of the SearchLeeds conference, has joined the board of Leeds-based travel marketing agency north9 as a non-executive director. The agency announced the appointment at the end of August, citing Kenwright’s nearly two decades of experience in search marketing to help north9 expand its focus on AI-driven travel recommendations.
Kenwright previously led strategy at Branded3 and served as head of digital at Pendragon PLC before co-founding Rise at Seven in 2019. The company reached over £7 million in annual revenue and employed 110 staff across four offices before his departure in 2022. He currently sits on the boards of Digitaloft and eComOne.
North9’s founder, Tom McLoughlin, described the appointment as a “milestone” for the agency, which specializes in travel marketing and has donated profits to charity since its 2011 launch as SEO Travel. McLoughlin rebranded the company as north9 in late 2025, positioning it as a leader in AI-driven search optimization for travel brands.
Kenwright praised north9’s approach, noting its early specialization in travel, a sector most agencies avoided, and its willingness to innovate. His role aligns with north9’s strategy of helping travel brands secure visibility in AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google’s AI Overviews through generative engine optimization (GEO).
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The agency emphasizes long-term credibility over short-term AI ranking tactics, given the daily fluctuations in AI recommendations. Kenwright’s expertise in search and digital PR will support this focus, according to north9. His appointment reflects the growing demand for AI-integrated marketing as travelers increasingly rely on AI tools for trip planning.
North9’s shift toward AI aligns with broader industry trends, where brands must adapt to how search engines prioritize content. Unlike competitors racing to exploit AI’s immediate visibility, north9’s measured approach suggests a focus on sustainable trust, one that could set it apart in a crowded field.
The agency helps travel brands optimize for AI-driven searches by ensuring their content meets the platforms’ evolving criteria. While competitors may chase algorithmic shifts, north9’s strategy prioritizes foundational credibility, a contrast to the rapid-fire optimizations seen elsewhere.
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