Bench Media bolsters leadership lineup and announces raft of new hires

Following a slew of new business wins, independent full-service media agency Bench Media has announced two promotions to its senior leadership team plus 3 new hires across its client services and performance teams.

Nate Vella has been promoted to a Head of Strategy role, from Brand Strategy Lead, bringing a blend of commercial acumen, creative thinking, and deep audience insight into the agency’s client strategy offering. Vella has helped brands cut through complexity and drive meaningful outcomes, and in this expanded role, will lead strategic planning across the agency while shaping Bench’s broader go-to-market direction.

Long-time team member, Erin Fraser has been promoted to Head of Client Services, taking on an expanded remit overseeing all client partnerships and delivery across the agency’s growing client portfolio. Previously Fraser was Group Head Media Strategy where she was instrumental in building a high-performing team culture and delivering consistent, measurable impact for Bench clients. The promotion reflects her strong leadership skills and the value she brings to client solutions and growth.

The promotions come alongside a wave of new hires across Bench Media’s client services and performance teams, as the agency scales to meet increasing demand. The new members and promotions collectively bring diverse experience from both agency, brand and adtech roles, further strengthening Bench’s capability to deliver seamless, integrated media solutions across digital, search, programmatic, traditional and retail channels.

The appointments follow new partnerships with several major clients won in the first half of 2025, including Sydney Airport and Australian Catholic University (ACU). Bench Media CEO Ori Gold said the momentum reflects the strength of the agency’s independent model and its focus on flexibility, transparency and results.

Gold said: “We’re growing because we’re staying true to what clients need right now – an agency partner who understands the big picture, moves quickly, and delivers outcomes they can see.

“Nate and Erin’s promotions are recognition of the value they’ve created for our clients and for the agency and we’re excited to keep building our agency offering with them together with our newly expanded team.”

As the agency continues to expand and gain momentum, more announcements are expected in the second half of the year, including new product offerings and a deeper focus on the integration of creative and media strategy.

All promotions and new hires are effective immediately.

Founded in Sydney in 2012, Bench Media has evolved from a digital pioneer to a full-service media agency with a reputation for smart, flexible media strategy and transparent performance delivery. Powered by its proprietary tech platform Bench Connect, the agency delivers campaigns across the full media mix, helping brands find the right balance between scale, relevance and return.