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eyeball Extends Global Reach with EP Nikki Bentley

New hire emphasizes agency’s growth in the U.S. and global markets.

Los Angeles & New York – Creative strategic design agency eyeball has hired industry veteran Nikki Bentley as Executive Producer. The appointment comes as eyeball continues its reach in both the domestic U.S. and international markets. Based out of London, Bentley will leverage her global contacts to expand eyeball’s branding services into international territories where brands are looking to secure strategic footholds in their markets.

"I've known Nikki and the scope of her relationships for a long time,” says David Edelstein, eyeball Managing Director, Broadcast. “It's very exciting to have the opportunity to partner with Nikki in growing the eyeball brand in the U.K. and Europe, as well as worldwide.”

Managing Partner Ben Spivak echoed Edelstein’s sentiments, “Nikki is a great new hire. Aside from her rich history of business successes that should help David grow our broadcast revenues, I’m especially impressed with her measured and thoughtful approach to client services. We both share the driving ethos that being a reasonable person is key.”

Bentley comes to eyeball after serving as business director at UK creative agency BDA since 2005. Working with broadcasters worldwide to provide channel branding and promotion campaigns, she saw a shift in TV marketing at BDA -- from producing thousands of monthly promos across linear schedules to multi-platform audience-targeted campaigns.

“The last 10 years have seen some dynamic changes in the media landscape," says Bentley. "And whilst each territory has its own peculiarities in terms of culture and carriage, it’s a worldwide evolution -- which means the opportunities for eyeball are global, and that’s very exciting. There is huge potential to share market insights across the Atlantic, so we’re opening up this channel not just for my clients in Europe and beyond, but for my US contacts, too. eyeball is a powerful creative force, with a team that truly understands the strategy of shaping brands, so we’re perfectly placed to support the industry’s continued metamorphosis and, dare I say, survival.”

Bentley’s interest in television goes back to her native South Africa where she grew up on a remote farm and spent most of her childhood TV-free. She was in her early teens when the family finally got a TV, and from that day, she was hooked. “I never wanted to switch it off. I loved everything about it – even the ads back then,” she says. “It’s that emotional connection, the love we all have for being entertained in our own space that has fascinated me over the years and formed the impetus behind the work I do now.”

Bentley started her career working for a South African production company, focusing on television and cinema commercials. She then joined a group of friends who had started their own creative agency, Rapid Blue, while working for the then-relatively-unknown satellite platform Multichoice. There, Bentley produced everything from channel rebrands to promo campaigns and, eventually, live programming and long-form content. Always searching for a bigger challenge, Bentley decided to move to the UK where she spent the next six years working in the sports marketing and advertising industry for brands around major sporting events, including the Premier League Football.

Bentley’s work for both Canal+ in France and BDA have garnered numerous PromaxBDA awards. “L’Arbitre,” a short which she produced for ESPN, was voted best film in 2012 by the United Nations Department of Public Information while also garnering the World Gold for Best Sports & Recreation Television Documentary/Information Programme at the New York Festivals.

Bentley says she was drawn to eyeball for their enthusiasm, creative aesthetic and a client roster of some of today's most inspiring brands. “In order to stand out in our marketplace, agencies need to bring more than just great design,” concludes Bentley. “Creative companies that offer a deeper understanding of the client’s challenges and can partner at the strategic level will be the go-to agencies for media brands. I believe eyeball is that agency, and I can't wait to open up these global opportunities.”

Source: eyeball

Jennifer Wolfe's picture

Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.