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Lou Paskalis

CEO and Founder at AJL Advisory

Paskalis is known for being one of the most vocal and credible advertiser-side critics of major tech platforms, championing brand safety, media transparency, and measurement accountability from his perch as a former top media executive at Bank of America.

Thought LeaderLinkedInNew York, New York, United States20+ years in industry

Last updated May 30, 2026 by the ATDb Editorial Team

Bio

Lou Paskalis is one of the most influential and outspoken voices in digital advertising, widely recognized for his relentless advocacy on behalf of advertisers in the fight against ad fraud, brand safety failures, and opacity in the programmatic ecosystem. As a former steward of one of the largest media budgets in corporate America at Bank of America, he brings rare credibility to his critiques of major platforms and the broader digital supply chain — speaking not as an outside observer but as someone who lived the consequences of systemic dysfunction at scale. Paskalis spent over a decade at Bank of America, rising to Executive Vice President of Media, Enterprise Marketing, and Customer Engagement, where he was responsible for shaping how one of the world's largest financial institutions invested in media. During this time, he became a prominent industry figure, frequently challenging platforms like Google, Facebook, and Twitter to meet higher standards of transparency, measurement, and brand safety. His willingness to publicly name and pressure major tech companies made him a distinctive and respected voice among CMOs and media buyers. Following his tenure at Bank of America, Paskalis founded AJL Advisory, a consultancy focused on media quality, advertiser rights, and digital advertising best practices. He has served in advisory and board capacities across the industry and remains a sought-after speaker at major conferences including Cannes Lions, the ANA Media Conference, and Advertising Week. He is known for his sharp commentary on the responsibilities of platforms, the failures of self-regulation, and the need for advertisers to exercise greater collective leverage in demanding accountability from the media ecosystem.

Previous Roles

Executive Vice President, Media, Enterprise Marketing and Customer Engagement

Bank of America (2007-2019)

Senior Vice President, Global Media Content and Mobile Marketing

American Express (2000-2007)

Expertise
Brand SafetyMedia TransparencyAd FraudViewabilityProgrammatic AdvertisingMedia QualityAdvertiser AccountabilityDigital Advertising Standards
Education
  • Bachelor's Degree, Fordham University
Notable Achievements
  • Oversaw one of the largest corporate media budgets in the United States as EVP at Bank of America
  • Became a leading industry voice pressuring major platforms including Google, Facebook, and Twitter to adopt higher brand safety and transparency standards
  • Founded AJL Advisory to institutionalize advertiser-side advocacy on media quality and digital advertising best practices
  • Instrumental in shaping industry dialogue around advertiser rights and platform accountability at major industry forums
Awards
Recognized by Advertising Age among influential figures in media and marketing
Speaking Topics
Brand Safety and Advertiser AccountabilityMedia Transparency and Supply Chain IntegrityThe Future of Digital AdvertisingAd Fraud and ViewabilityPlatform Responsibility and Self-RegulationAdvertiser Empowerment and Collective Action
Publications
  • Frequent contributor and quoted expert in Ad Age, Adweek, Digiday, and The Wall Street Journal on topics of brand safety and media transparency
Board Memberships
Ad Council (former)Marketing Edge (former)
Advisory Roles
AJL Advisory (Founder)