Corporate

Strategic Advisors

Tom MacIsaac
Founder and CEO
Cove Street Partners

Tom's experience and extensive network includes digital media, marketing and advertising.  Previously, Tom was a senior executive with AOL, a division of Time Warner (NYSE: TWX), where he was responsible for strategic planning, M&A and strategic business development for the third-party ad network division.  As SVP Strategy and Corporate Development for AOL’s Advertising.com division, Tom helped transform AOL into a leading, diversified advertising business through his leadership in over $1 billion in AOL acquisitions including Third Screen Media (mobile ad network), AdTech (European ad serving company), TACODA (behavioral ad network), Quigo (contextual advertising network) and Buy.at (affiliate marketing network).  Tom’s Business Development team secured dozens of key partnerships for AOL, focusing on the emerging area of cross-platform (Web, video and mobile) ad inventory monetization, including major deals with the FOX/ NBC joint venture Hulu, Warner Bros. and Verizon Wireless.  

Previously, Tom was the President and CEO of Lightningcast, Inc., a leading Internet video advertising company.  Tom joined Lightningcast in 2003 and built it into the leading ad serving platform for Internet audio and video advertising for customers including AOL, MSFT, Disney/ABC, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, MTV, NPR, Scripps, A&E, Reuters, NBA, MLB, National Geographic, Warner Bros., Hulu and many others.  In 2005, Tom launched Lightningcast’s video advertising network and built it into the leading video advertising network on the Internet serving major brand advertisers including P&G, Pfizer, Amex, Ford, Acura, GM, Glaxo, VW, Honda and many others.  Lightningcast was acquired by AOL in May 2006.  

In 2000, Tom started Backwire, an Internet media and marketing company that supplied timely news, entertainment and information to consumers via email.  Backwire was one of the first Internet companies to develop complex targeting algorithms that would deliver ads based on dynamic psychographic profiles derived from interaction with media over time.  Leading internet advertising companies, including DoubleClick, licensed Backwire’s proprietary technology for developing customized, one-to-one electronic messages.  Backwire was acquired by wireless carrier Leap Wireless (Nasdaq: LEAP), as the foundational asset for Leap’s consumer mobile media and customized SMS products. 

Prior to founding Backwire, Tom was a partner in DC-based Venturehouse Group.  Tom also served as President of America Online Select, a joint venture between America Online, Inc. and Monument Communications, Inc.  Tom practiced corporate/securities law in the Washington office of Dechert Price & Rhoads from 1989-1995.  Tom received a B.A. from Vassar College and a J.D. from Catholic University.