Tom Pino
Founder
Polaris
About Tom Pino
Tom Pino is a veteran of the political advertising space with nearly two decades of experience.
He has directed hundreds of millions of dollars in ad spend and is one of the few Latinos to lead a media department. He has worked on races across the country and up and down the ballot. Tom was a buyer on two presidential campaigns – Hillary for America in 2016 and Senator Amy Klobuchar’s campaign in 2020. His previous work also includes media buying and planning for the DSCC, DGA, DCCC, and House Majority PAC. Tom also knows the value in direct democracy and has worked on a number of ballot propositions including recent campaigns in California, Massachusetts, and Missouri.
Tom is a rarity in the ad buying space with extensive hands-on-keyboard experience in all types of advertising – from linear television where he began his career, to the increasingly important and complex digital strategies, including CTV/OTT and programmatic advertising. He can seamlessly move from talking GRPs and CPPs to CPMs and impressions, while identifying the right mix for your campaign.
Before founding Polaris, Tom worked at some of the top advertising firms in the industry. Most recently, he served as VP of Media at Rising Tide Interactive, and previously Associate Media Director at GPS Impact, and Senior Buyer at GMMB. He began his career as a Media Assistant and eventually an Account Executive for Ampersand, formerly NCC Media.
Tom is a graduate of Boston University with a Bachelor’s degree in History and a Master’s degree in International Relations. He grew up in a blue-collar family in Connecticut and Texas and is the son of a bank teller and a home inspector. He lives in DC where he partakes in the frustrating pursuits of Washington Wizards fandom and golfing (poorly).