Agency taps Cari Bucci-Hulings as President, Matt Benka as SVP of Growth and Nathan Young as Group Strategy Director
Infused with new capital from an unconventional parent company and energized by an expanding client base, Minneapolis-based Periscope is fortifying its executive team in pursuit of double-digit growth. The integrated marketing agency today announced that Cari Bucci-Hulings will join as president, effective July 6, in addition to other recent high-profile hires. Bucci-Hulings most recently served as president of MARC USA, one of the largest independent agencies in the country.
In the role, Bucci-Hulings will be responsible for accelerating Periscope’s mission to do things people love and growing the business into new offerings and markets. She will report to Eric Ashworth, EVP, Quad and President, Agency Solutions for Quad, the creative engineering company that acquired Periscope in 2019.
“Periscope succeeds by connecting emotions with behaviors, and Cari is a perfect fit for that pursuit,” Ashworth said. “She understands the importance of culture, creativity and community to serve the constantly evolving needs of today’s marketers. She’s also obsessed with the data science and analytics that fuel product development and business growth. Her experience, energy and fresh perspective make her an ideal fit for a growing agency focused on helping brands perform beyond their expectations.”
Bucci-Hulings joined MARC USA in 2010 and was promoted to president in 2018. Prior to MARC USA, she spent eight years at DraftFCB, and was previously with Leo Burnett.
“Periscope is unencumbered by a complex holding company structure, so it enjoys the agility of an independent agency with access to the vast resources and support of a global parent organization,” said Bucci-Hulings. “The agency’s dynamic culture and unwavering connection to the heart of what makes consumers act results in unexpected, impactful brand experiences. I am thrilled to join this fierce and scrappy organization and to be part of the Quad/Periscope journey to redefine integrated marketing and create an alternative to the traditional siloed agency.”
In addition to Bucci-Hulings, Periscope hired SVP of Growth Matt Benka in April to hone the agency’s go-to-market strategy and positioning. A month earlier, the agency hired Group Strategy Director Nathan Young. Young has been part of the agency’s COVID-19 response team and is one of the two industry leaders who rallied 600 Black advertising professionals to pen a letter outlining 12 actions agencies should take to help eradicate systemic racism in their organizations.
“Fresh thinking, infectious energy and unparalleled passion … this is how we define leadership at Periscope,” said Ashworth. “Partnering with CCO Peter Nicholson, we have our sights set on delighted clients who are looking for a new kind of partner.”
