Andrew Lebentz Email & Phone Number

London, Gb

London, England, United Kingdom

I am helping to spearhead the 'content first' strategy at the brandformula family. I am developing thought-provoking and engaging content and ideas across traditional and digital platforms. As an expert in broadcast communications and reaching wider audiences, my role is to generate exciting new themes and broaden understanding.

Lyon Area, France

I was the Managing Editor and primary Executive Producer of the channel. I reinvented the morning news programme to be the flagship of the entire brand. 'Good Morning Europe' has become a "go-to source" for informative and impartial news. I pushed the brand to new levels of respectability amongst its peers, competitors, newsmakers & advertisers. Because of my direct input and guidance, the programme reached its highest-ever standards of production, craftsmanship and storytelling across broadcast and digital media.I led a team of producers, presenters and reporters to plan, produce and edit the show. I offered training and mentorship to my team, and worked to involve other departments in the production and marketing of the programme and entire brand. I sought to use various storytelling platforms and creativity to reach new audiences and advertisers, recognising the inherent differences between traditional-broadcast and newer-digital media. I acted as a central facilitator and liaison between departments and external organisations, customers and contributors. This helped to improve workflow, team dynamics, editorial content and brand perception. It also led to increased audience reach and advertiser interest in the Euronews brand.I had full responsibility for legal and compliance issues, ensuring that standards were upheld, and ethical issues were monitored. I also ensured that minimum quality thresholds were established and adhered to. This involved frequent re-writing of copy to maintain authority, credibility and consistency. During my tenure, I reinvented the programme remit and style; broadening the agenda, streamlining the editorial style, improving the presentational look & feel, and making the programme more appealing to commercial advertising and sponsorship opportunities. I encouraged greater use of creativity and better storytelling techniques.

London, United Kingdom

As Head of Production, my role was about ensuring the studio complex could meet or exceed the expectations of any incoming client. On a day-to-day basis this meant making sure the facilities and equipment were properly configured and staff appropriately trained and briefed. I provided direct support to incoming clients and was the public face of the studio facility.I helped incoming clients to make news and current affairs programmes, corporate videos, lifestyle programmes and programming designed for live streaming to social media. In each case I tried to personalise the studio offerings for each respective client - this sometimes meant simple aesthetic changes, but on other occasions, involved procuring specialist equipment, staging or staffing. I also regularly deputised for the CEO of the company, making corporate decisions and acting in the best interests of the business. These included finance, personnel and technical decisions. Part of my remit included oversight of a massive international expansion into the United States and Russia, and overseeing the creation of 4 new studio complexes.I also developed the live Outside Broadcast side of the business. This included deploying to live breaking news stories.

Istanbul, Turkey

I was a member of the launch team and senior editorial figure for this English language news channel based in Istanbul. On a daily basis, I ran the newsroom, determined editorial direction and commissioned reporters and producers to deliver stories and content. Additionally I help to manage budgets and ensure the channel was meeting quality and compliance objectives. I also played a pioneering role in establishing the digital offerings of the channel, such as video-on-demand. Initially the channel offered simple copy, but following my suggestions, it began commissioning, developing and standardising video-on-demand and items made exclusively for digital platforms. I also helped to establish the channel's live streaming on social media.On a daily basis, I determined which international stories to cover and how they were treated. I managed producers & reporters together with field operations, craft editors and technical teams. I also wrote, produced & voiced many packages. As a Project Manager, I designed and was responsible for the launch of the first bulletins from Istanbul. This included creating and implementing work flows and best practices. More recently I have acted as the Launch Editor of the channel's first overseas bureau, in London. Both projects have included substantial contact and liaison with internal and external stakeholders and service providers.As a senior figure at the channel, I have recruited, appraised, trained and motivated staff. I have dealt with budgetary control. I have briefed staff at all levels, and I have worked with stakeholders both within and outside the business, and in some cases internationally.

Doha, Qatar

Responsible for the editorial output, and editorial process of the Al Jazeera English language channel.On one level, this entailed deciding upon the editorial agenda, and moving it forward. On the other hand, this involved managing staff and commissioning the various storytelling elements needed to make actual broadcast television.I held a responsibility to promote the channel and network by telling easy-to-understand and engaging news stories. I was also responsible for the physical output of the channel. I constantly had to engage with three teams: firstly the news gathering operation - this included our network of field-based correspondents and producers who are usually best placed to judge and comment upon developing stories. Secondly through a dedicated team of output producers who actually manufactured the various elements of television. Thirdly with a gallery team of technical rather than editorial people who built the editorial elements into an actual television programme.I had a duty to train and develop staff, provide feedback and address training needs.

London, United Kingdom

I began my news career in radio, initially at a local level, before moving to a national scene. I was originally employed as an output producer & district reporter. My later career took me to a national level in the main BBC newsroom as one of major producers at (what was then called) BBC News 24. My work involved story telling of a wide range of stories: political, international, environmental, industrial, cultural. I developed a wide range of contacts and before becoming a senior editorial figure in the main national television newsroom. I learned from the bottom up, doing every job in the newsroom and building the entire broadcasting experience from planning and newsgathering through to output and post production.I acquired a deep understanding and interest in UK domestic politics. I became an integral part of the BBC's Elections team. This small unit was responsible for every election programme on the corporation, (parliamentary/local/European and also US Presidential elections). In 2010, as a deputy Editor of the General election, I commissioned and then output the key graphics that kept the entire BBC's coverage on air. This included budgetary and legal compliance responsibility.

Concord, Nh, Usa

I was the breakfast show producer for this regional radio station in New Hampshire.

London, United Kingdom

I worked as a hospital administrator on a part time basis while working on my university degree. I was responsible for the procurement of medical sundries (Everything from syringes & needles to advanced medical equipment such as scanning equipment).

Post-Graduate Diploma, Broadcast Journalism

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Classics And Classical Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics