Bench Media’s head of strategy Nate Vella is set to depart the indie media agency mid-July to pursue “new opportunities” in London.
Vella has spent the last four and a half years at Bench Media.
In his role he led strategic planning, shaped the agency’s go-to-market direction and developed holistic brand strategies that merged data analytics with creative media solutions.
Speaking with B&T, Vella said after his four and a half year tenure, it felt like “the right time to take on a new challenge and experience a different market”.
“London has always been on my list and I’m excited by the opportunity to learn, grow and contribute in one of the world’s most dynamic media and marketing hubs,” he said.
“While I don’t have a role to announce just yet, I’m looking forward to exploring opportunities across strategy, growth and client leadership, and seeing where the next chapter takes me.”
The strategy lead took to LinkedIn to officially announce his departure.
“When I joined, Bench was a very different agency – and I was a very different person. I’ve had the opportunity to help shape the agency’s strategic offering, work with brilliant clients and colleagues, contribute to some incredible campaigns, and grow professionally in ways I never expected.
“A huge thank you to Ori [Gold], Shai [Luft], Jessica [Torstensson], Liam [Garratt], Erin [Fraser], and Aaron [Jansen] for the trust they’ve placed in me over that time. They’ve given me the freedom to back my ideas, challenged my thinking when I needed, and played a huge role in my development as a strategist and a leader.”
Gold, CEO and co-founder of Bench Media, praised Vella’s contribution to the agency, both as a leader and trusted adviser to clients, and said he will be greatly missed by the team.
“When Nate told me he wanted to pursue a new chapter in his career and move to London to gain international experience, I couldn’t have been happier for him. Over the past four and a half years, Nate has made an outstanding contribution to Bench, our clients and our team. He has consistently delivered exceptional strategic thinking, built strong relationships and helped shape the agency into what it is today,” he said.
“After four and a half years with the agency, he leaves with our gratitude, respect and best wishes for what comes next. While we will certainly miss him, we fully support his decision and are excited to see where this next chapter takes him.”
Vella’s responsibilities will be managed by Bench Media’s senior leadership team while the agency completes its search for a successor.
Recruitment for the role is already underway, with the agency seeking a senior strategic leader to help shape the next phase of Bench Media’s growth.
