BENlabs lays off “many” staffers, appoints new CEO

Influencer marketing agency BENlabs has laid off “many” staffers and appointed a new CEO as part of a “strategic restructure,” it announced June 4.

The agency, whose core business involves using artificial intelligence to match brands and creators, said this restructure will allow it to “return to our client-centric roots” and focus on the three main things it offers: influencer marketing, product placement, and TubeBuddy, the YouTube analytics platform it acquired in 2020.

Former CEO Ricky Ray Butler has been replaced by Ted Sheffield, who’s been with BENlabs for over a decade and previously served as its Chief Operating Officer and general counsel.

Other executive appointments include Erin Schmidt as General Manager of Product Placement, Jake Maughan as General Manager of Influencer Marketing, and Tyler Folkman as Chief Technology Officer and General Manager of TubeBuddy.

As for the layoffs, BENlabs was not specific about how many employees were cut. “Given the significant shifts that have been required, this restructure has also resulted in a reduction in our workforce and the need to say goodbye to many amazing colleagues and friends,” it wrote on LinkedIn.

According to its website, it has around 400 employees.