Australia – Bench Media has announced two senior promotions as part of its ongoing investment in leadership and operations. Nicole Jurke has been promoted to head of people & culture and will join the agency’s management team, while Ting Zhang has been appointed as financial controller. Both promotions take effect immediately.
In her new role, Jurke will oversee talent attraction, development and retention, as well as employee experience initiatives. Her remit includes strengthening internal processes and fostering a working environment aimed at supporting long-term client relationships through team continuity, senior involvement and operational consistency.
Jurke has been with Bench Media for close to nine years and has been involved in developing the agency’s people-first culture. The agency said her expanded role aligns with its ambition to be recognised both as a strong employer and as a collaborative partner to clients.
Shai Luft, co-founder and chief operating officer of Bench Media, said, “Nicole’s promotion reinforces Bench’s commitment to providing clients with experienced, highly engaged teams who remain invested in their businesses over the long term. Bench’s staff retention rate is more than twice the industry average, giving clients confidence in stable relationships, deep knowledge and consistent delivery.”
Jurke said, “I’m incredibly proud of the culture we’ve built at Bench and excited to extend my remit as we continue strengthening the foundations that allow our people, and in turn, our clients, to thrive. Bench has always believed that great work starts with great people, and I’m committed to ensuring our teams feel supported, empowered and motivated to deliver exceptional results.”
Bench Media has also promoted Zhang to Financial Controller. In this role, she will manage relationships with financial institutions, client finance teams and insurance partners, while continuing to oversee financial governance and commercial processes within the agency.
According to Bench, Zhang’s responsibilities will include maintaining billing clarity and financial transparency, supporting efficient decision-making and ensuring smooth campaign execution. She has been with the agency for six years and has been involved in aligning financial operations with client delivery requirements.
“These promotions reflect Bench’s ongoing investment in its people and operations to deliver better outcomes for clients,” Luft said. “Nicole and Ting are great examples of the culture we have built at Bench: long-tenured, deeply knowledgeable and a team driven by a genuine can-do attitude. As we build on our growth foundations in 2026 and beyond, Nicole and Ting’s leadership will help more brands experience what a better, more collaborative media agency partnership looks like.”
