Cove Street is led by Tom MacIsaac and leverages Tom's deep experience and extensive network in digital media, marketing and advertising.  Previously, from 2006 to 2008, 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 AOL's ad network businesses.  As SVP Strategy and Corporate Development, Tom played a major role in the transformation of 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 (ad serving), TACODA (behavioral ad network), Quigo (contextual advertising network) and Buy.at (affiliate marketing network).  In addition, 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.  Tom was also the President and CEO of Lightningcast, Inc., a leading Internet video advertising company, now an operating unit of AOL. 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 and built Backwire into a leading Web and email publisher with over three million subscribers across multiple verticals.  Backwire was one of the first Internet companies to develop complex targeting algorithms to 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, a $50 million venture fund whose investments during Tom's tenure included Varsitybooks (Nasdaq:VSTY) and XM Satellite Radio (Nasdaq:XMSR).  Tom also served as President of America Online Select, a joint venture between America Online, Inc. and Monument Communications, Inc., which acquired AOL subscribers via alternative channels such as direct selling and multilevel marketing.  At AOL Select, Tom led all direct selling and customer acquisition strategies and initiatives and led the sale of the joint venture to AOL.  Tom practiced corporate/securities law in the Washington office of the global law firm Dechert Price & Rhoads from 1989-1995.  His work involved advising corporations, private equity and venture funds, investment banks and broker/dealers on corporate securities matters, corporate finance, mergers & acquisitions and capital markets regulation.