Sydney-based independent digital media agency, Bench, has brought on Laura Kleiman to lead Strategic Partnerships.

Kleiman brings over 20 years of experience to the role, having previously served as the Senior Sales Manager at GumGum and Sales Director at Crimtan. Her background includes work with Australia's top publishers and global adtech firms, with a focus on the retail industry.

This move follows a recent surge in new business for Bench, with brands such as Medtronic, Jaycar, Genea, and FlexiRoam joining the agency's portfolio.

"At Bench, we are experiencing an exciting phase of growth, marked by our new positioning as The Digital Disruption Agency, and the introduction of innovative products and services. Laura's track record speaks volumes... We're thrilled to welcome her to the Bench family," said VP of Growth at Bench, Anthony Fargeot.

Bench's repositioning sees the group introducing new products and services including the launch of its Commerce/Retail Media offering, leveraging Kleiman's extensive experience with both online and offline retailers.

"While 'Commerce Media' and 'Retail Media' are buzzwords often thrown around, only a few agencies seem to offer a truly comprehensive solution in this space. Over the past few months, we've conducted extensive research and collaborated closely with the market to address the gaps many advertisers face," Fargeot said. "Leveraging Laura's wealth of experience working with both online and offline retailers, we are excited to soon release this promising and innovative product."

Founded in 2012 and managed by Shai Luft and Ori Gold, Bench represents clients across a broad range of categories, including Cook Islands Tourism, Medtronic, UTS, Samsonite, and Epson.