Tom Arduino is an influencer

Chief Marketing Officer | Trusted Advisor | Growth Marketing Leader | Go-To-Market Strategy | Lead Gen | B2B | B2C | B2B2C | Revenue Generator | Digital Marketing Strategy | xSynchrony | xHSBC | xCapital One

Greater Chicago Area
10K followers 500+ connections

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About

I help mid-market companies achieve their growth vision. 🚀

Tom is a seasoned, rigorous marketing leader with a unique blend of experience ranging from large-scale corporations to high-growth startups. Known for his take-charge attitude and ability to create and execute impactful marketing strategies from the ground up, he combines white-space thinking, creativity, and data-driven insights to deliver measurable results aligned with business objectives. Tom has successfully built and scaled high-performing marketing teams while mentoring team members and helping numerous companies achieve their growth vision through his attention to detail, flawless execution skills, and highly collaborative approach.

Tom's Superpowers 💪

Master of Growth
✅ Achieved 30% (ARR) annual revenue growth by identifying and capitalizing on market opportunities and executing multi-channel go-to-market strategies across Fortune 500 companies and high growth startups.

Omni-Channel Wizardry
✅ Increased customer engagement by 50% and conversion rates by 35% through mastery of SEO, SEM, social media, and email marketing, ensuring data-driven harmony across diverse channels.

Team Builder & Mentor
✅ As a visionary marketing leader, I scaled teams from the ground up by 200% and consistently increased performance metrics by 60%, focusing on mentoring, coaching, and inspiring people to achieve exceptional business results.

Innovative Strategist
✅ Implemented numerous strategic initiatives that resulted in a 40% increase in profitability and improved operational efficiency by 45%, thriving in fast-paced, innovative environments while leading through ambiguity.

Strategic Thought Leader
✅ Founded Innovative Marketing Solutions Consulting, driving impactful brand marketing and growth strategies in FinTech and Business Solutions sectors, leading to a 40% boost in client engagement by addressing customer pain points with compelling value propositions and digital transformation.

tarduino@chiefoutsiders.com

Services

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Articles by Tom

  • The North Star Approach to Growth
    Nov 6, 2024

    The North Star Approach to Growth

    Growth can be challenging for some companies. It’s easy to get sidetracked by short-term gains and fleeting trends.

  • Mastering Go-To-Market Strategy
    Oct 22, 2024

    Mastering Go-To-Market Strategy

    Mastering go-to-market (GTM) strategies has become more crucial than ever. Whether you're a startup launching a new…

    1 Comment
  • How to Drive Impactful Change
    Oct 14, 2024

    How to Drive Impactful Change

    Driving impactful change is crucial for businesses to stay competitive and relevant, but it can be challenging due to…

  • How to Create & Implement a Winning Marketing Strategy for New Market Expansion
    Aug 19, 2024

    How to Create & Implement a Winning Marketing Strategy for New Market Expansion

    Venturing into a new market is an ambitious endeavor that can elevate your business to new levels, but it also involves…

    2 Comments
  • The Essential Role of Having Industry Experience in Financial Services and Banking Consulting
    Jul 3, 2024

    The Essential Role of Having Industry Experience in Financial Services and Banking Consulting

    In my experience as a Strategic Marketing Consultant, businesses are constantly seeking innovative solutions to stay…

  • What is Your Go-To-Market Strategy?
    Jun 18, 2024

    What is Your Go-To-Market Strategy?

    Key Factors for Building an Effective Go-To-Market (GTM) Strategy In this white paper we are going to cover the key…

  • How Chip Cards Work
    Mar 26, 2015

    How Chip Cards Work

    When inserted into a terminal, a chip card generates a unique, one-time code needed for the transaction to be approved.…

  • EMV Chip Card Implementation is Critical to Prevent Hackers
    Nov 19, 2014

    EMV Chip Card Implementation is Critical to Prevent Hackers

    Most if not all Americans worry “frequently” or “occasionally” about having a credit card compromised by computer…

  • The 411 on EMV Cards
    Oct 29, 2014

    The 411 on EMV Cards

    The nationwide shift to EMV has begun. Europay, MasterCard and Visa -- is a global standard for cards equipped with…

  • Can EMV solve US Credit Card Fraud?
    Oct 23, 2014

    Can EMV solve US Credit Card Fraud?

    Although a few experts argue that EMV chips are going to make little difference to the country's plastic fraud problem,…

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Activity

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Experience

  • Chief Outsiders

    Chief Outsiders

    1 year

    • Chief Outsiders Graphic

      CMO

      Chief Outsiders

      - Present 1 year

      As a Fractional CMO, I connect the dots between strategy, data, creativity, and execution. I thrive at navigating complex growth challenges, aligning teams around a common vision, and translating insights into action. Whether it’s identifying new revenue streams, optimizing marketing performance, or crafting a go-to-market strategy, I see the bigger picture while ensuring every detail drives results.

      Chief Outsiders is a national strategic management consulting firm of executive-level…

      As a Fractional CMO, I connect the dots between strategy, data, creativity, and execution. I thrive at navigating complex growth challenges, aligning teams around a common vision, and translating insights into action. Whether it’s identifying new revenue streams, optimizing marketing performance, or crafting a go-to-market strategy, I see the bigger picture while ensuring every detail drives results.

      Chief Outsiders is a national strategic management consulting firm of executive-level, execution-oriented CMOs who help companies build and drive top-line growth and provide fractional C-level leadership with the flexibility of an on-demand engagement structure. Chief Outsiders' CMOs serve in fractional, interim, and advisory roles for more than 1,000 B2C and B2B brands, SMBs, and private equity portfolio companies.

      For the past six years, Chief Outsiders has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the 5,000 fastest-growing privately held companies in the US and has recently earned the No. 27 spot on Consulting Magazine’s annual list of the nation’s fastest-growing consulting firm.

      Contact me today:
      https://www.chiefoutsiders.com/profile/tom-arduino

    • Chief Outsiders Graphic

      Chief Marketing Officer

      Chief Outsiders

      - Present 1 year

  • Harvard Business Review Graphic

    HBR Advisory Council Member

    Harvard Business Review

    - Present 1 year

    Contributes expert insights to help shape the content HBR develops, participate in research studies, and add a perspective on the wider world of marketing, management, and leadership.

  • Innovative Marketing Solutions Consulting, LLC Graphic

    Strategic Marketing Consultant | Fractional CMO

    Innovative Marketing Solutions Consulting, LLC

    - less than a year

    Elmhurst, IL

    Innovative Marketing Solutions specializes in providing B2B and B2C marketing consulting services for banks, credit unions, financial services, fintech, and payment companies. focusing on developing and executing comprehensive product marketing strategies. IMS excels in crafting value propositions that resonate with customers, driving organic growth through innovative marketing approaches. This includes leading data-driven, cost-efficient strategies across various channels such as paid search…

    Innovative Marketing Solutions specializes in providing B2B and B2C marketing consulting services for banks, credit unions, financial services, fintech, and payment companies. focusing on developing and executing comprehensive product marketing strategies. IMS excels in crafting value propositions that resonate with customers, driving organic growth through innovative marketing approaches. This includes leading data-driven, cost-efficient strategies across various channels such as paid search, SEO, and programmatic advertising, while collaborating closely with clients to align marketing efforts with their business objectives.

    IMS is committed to delivering exceptional outcomes and exceeding client expectations.

    ✅ IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE ON A CONSULTING, PER PROJECT, CONTRACT, FRACTIONAL CMO, OR FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT BASIS.

    “We engaged Tom to help guide our institution - a roughly $30B bank holdco - through the development of a comprehensive, multi-channel marketing and digital acquisition strategy from the ground up for a new digital savings platform. Tom's deep experience in financial services and banking, as well as other industries, was invaluable to us not only for our marketing and strategy needs, but the overall design of the customer experience. Tom effectively acted as our fractional CMO, driving discussions and strategies internally as well as with multiple third-party agencies and development firms that we could not have otherwise done on our own, asking tough questions and inspiring a solution-driven dialog that absolutely benefited the project. I would highly recommend Tom and expect to work with him again in the future”.

  • Paybotic Financial Graphic

    CMO | Head of Marketing (Promoted)

    Paybotic Financial

    - less than a year

    West Palm Beach, FL

    Paybotic Financial is a sister company of Paybotic and offers BaaS financial solutions to the cannabis industry.

    Led the establishment of Paybotic Financial's BaaS division, built, and grew a new team, and developed a comprehensive marketing plan and go-to-market (GTM) strategy. Pioneered the creation of a dynamic architecture, including new website development, digital wallet program, and a cohesive brand strategy highlighting the company's unique value proposition.

    Key…

    Paybotic Financial is a sister company of Paybotic and offers BaaS financial solutions to the cannabis industry.

    Led the establishment of Paybotic Financial's BaaS division, built, and grew a new team, and developed a comprehensive marketing plan and go-to-market (GTM) strategy. Pioneered the creation of a dynamic architecture, including new website development, digital wallet program, and a cohesive brand strategy highlighting the company's unique value proposition.

    Key Achievements:
    ➜ Established and led Paybotic Financial's Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) division, focusing on building a high-performing marketing team and developing strategic marketing plans.
    ➜ Managed an $800k marketing budget, meticulously tying expenditures to aggressive KPIs to maximize Return on Investment (ROI).
    ➜ Spearheaded GTM strategy that generated over 100 net new leads, 3,000 monthly website visitors, and increased LinkedIn followership to 1,500+ within four months.

  • Paybotic Graphic

    CMO | Head of Marketing Department

    Paybotic

    - 1 year

    West Palm Beach, FL

    Paybotic is a leading provider of payment solutions for high-risk industries. (cannabis)

    As the Senior Director and Head of Marketing in 2022, took on the challenge of stabilizing the marketing team (7 direct reports) and implemented a strategic roadmap for exponential company growth at Paybotic.

    Key Achievements:
    ➜ Stabilized the marketing team and implemented a strategic roadmap for exponential company growth.
    ➜ Engineered multichannel marketing campaigns, resulting in a…

    Paybotic is a leading provider of payment solutions for high-risk industries. (cannabis)

    As the Senior Director and Head of Marketing in 2022, took on the challenge of stabilizing the marketing team (7 direct reports) and implemented a strategic roadmap for exponential company growth at Paybotic.

    Key Achievements:
    ➜ Stabilized the marketing team and implemented a strategic roadmap for exponential company growth.
    ➜ Engineered multichannel marketing campaigns, resulting in a 200% increase in average monthly lead generation.
    ➜ Executed a dynamic SEO campaign, leading to a 40% increase in organic website traffic and a 25% increase in online conversions.

  • Great American Finance Holdings, LLC Graphic

    CMO I Head of Marketing

    Great American Finance Holdings, LLC

    - 1 year

    Chicago, IL

    Great American Finance & Castle Credit is an innovative Fintech start-up that provides primary and secondary B2B and B2C financing solutions to home furnishing and bedding partners across the US.

    As the Vice President of Marketing & Head of Marketing, I played a pivotal role in elevating the organization in B2B2C, B2C omni-channel marketing through innovative SaaS strategies. Crafted resonant messaging to establish a cohesive brand identity and drove new business initiatives to position…

    Great American Finance & Castle Credit is an innovative Fintech start-up that provides primary and secondary B2B and B2C financing solutions to home furnishing and bedding partners across the US.

    As the Vice President of Marketing & Head of Marketing, I played a pivotal role in elevating the organization in B2B2C, B2C omni-channel marketing through innovative SaaS strategies. Crafted resonant messaging to establish a cohesive brand identity and drove new business initiatives to position the business for increased competitiveness and overall growth. Supervised 2-3 Marketing Specialists, fostering a collaborative environment. Recruited two new hires to enhance the marketing team.

    Key Achievements:
    ➜ Elevated B2C omni-channel marketing through innovative SaaS strategies and resonant messaging for cohesive brand identity.
    ➜ Established a comprehensive lifecycle marketing program, generating $2M in repeat sales and an additional $2M in incremental sales.
    ➜ Secured new business deals, driving a 250% growth in 2nd look retail sales volume, translating to $400M in revenue.

  • Synchrony

    Synchrony

    6 years

    • Synchrony Graphic

      Vice President Marketing

      Synchrony

      - 4 years

      Chicago, IL

      As the Vice President of Client Marketing at Synchrony, I had the privilege of developing and executing diverse marketing and sales strategies for key clients (B2B2C), including Mattress Firm, Furniture Row, and Havertys. Managed portfolios exceeding $4B in sales, leading strategy, budget, and cross-functional teams.

      Tailored SEO, SEM, and social media plans for targeted growth, ensuring a comprehensive approach. Conducted impactful quarterly business reviews with Presidents and C-suite…

      As the Vice President of Client Marketing at Synchrony, I had the privilege of developing and executing diverse marketing and sales strategies for key clients (B2B2C), including Mattress Firm, Furniture Row, and Havertys. Managed portfolios exceeding $4B in sales, leading strategy, budget, and cross-functional teams.

      Tailored SEO, SEM, and social media plans for targeted growth, ensuring a comprehensive approach. Conducted impactful quarterly business reviews with Presidents and C-suite executives.

      Key Achievements:
      ➜ Managed marketing strategies for B2B2C key clients, overseeing portfolios exceeding $4B in sales.
      ➜ Achieved an 11% YoY increase in portfolio volume through strategic digital optimization.
      ➜ Drove a 22% YoY increase in online account acquisition and secured a $400M contract renewal with a key strategic furniture partner.

    • Synchrony Graphic

      BP Visa Credit Card Marketing

      Synchrony

      - 2 years

      Chicago, IL

      As the Marketing Leader for the BP Visa Credit Card portfolio, I spearheaded the revamp of client relationship management and executed strategic marketing initiatives for the BP Card, overseeing a $3B portfolio. Collaborated with client development and partner organizations for alignment and success.

      Key Achievements:
      ➜ Revamped client relationship management and executed strategic marketing initiatives for a $3B portfolio.
      ➜ Created and launched six innovative lifecycle programs…

      As the Marketing Leader for the BP Visa Credit Card portfolio, I spearheaded the revamp of client relationship management and executed strategic marketing initiatives for the BP Card, overseeing a $3B portfolio. Collaborated with client development and partner organizations for alignment and success.

      Key Achievements:
      ➜ Revamped client relationship management and executed strategic marketing initiatives for a $3B portfolio.
      ➜ Created and launched six innovative lifecycle programs, generating over $60M in incremental sales.
      ➜ Introduced a groundbreaking Early Months on Books (EMOB) strategy for cardholders, generating $80M in new revenue within the first six months of implementation.

  • MB Financial Bank Graphic

    Vice President Marketing

    MB Financial Bank

    - 1 year

    Rosemont, IL

    As the Vice President of Marketing, I spearheaded the comprehensive management of Credit Card payments, focusing on continuous development and enhancement of product offerings to align with market demand, fortify competitive advantage, and drive profitability.

    Managed and provided coaching to a team of two direct reports, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment as a consultant.

    Key Achievements:
    ➜ Developed and executed a Consumer Credit Card Strategic Road…

    As the Vice President of Marketing, I spearheaded the comprehensive management of Credit Card payments, focusing on continuous development and enhancement of product offerings to align with market demand, fortify competitive advantage, and drive profitability.

    Managed and provided coaching to a team of two direct reports, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment as a consultant.

    Key Achievements:
    ➜ Developed and executed a Consumer Credit Card Strategic Road Map, resulting in a 20% increase in market share and $50M in additional revenue through targeted product development and market positioning.
    ➜ Oversaw the implementation of Commercial Multi-Card training for Treasury Management and Relationship Bankers, leading to a 30% increase in client satisfaction and a 25% rise in cross-selling revenue within six months.

  • Capital One Graphic

    Senior Manager, Partnerships, Brand Strategy

    Capital One

    - 2 years

    Mettawa, IL

    Capital One purchased Credit Card business from HSBC in 2012.

    As the Manager of Brand Strategy and Partnerships at Capital One, I oversaw a team with two direct and three indirect reports, fostering a cohesive and high-performing working ambiance while directing the Best Buy portfolio—the largest and most critical account for the entire business.

    Managed a $14M marketing budget and collaborated closely with key stakeholders at Best Buy to drive business growth. Oversaw a team…

    Capital One purchased Credit Card business from HSBC in 2012.

    As the Manager of Brand Strategy and Partnerships at Capital One, I oversaw a team with two direct and three indirect reports, fostering a cohesive and high-performing working ambiance while directing the Best Buy portfolio—the largest and most critical account for the entire business.

    Managed a $14M marketing budget and collaborated closely with key stakeholders at Best Buy to drive business growth. Oversaw a team with two direct and three indirect reports, sharing best practices and ensuring a high-performing working ambiance.

    Key Achievements:
    ➜ Orchestrated a comprehensive omni-channel plan for the reissue of Best Buy cards, resulting in a remarkable 20% Year-over-Year boost in card sales, equating to $50M in additional revenue.
    ➜ Elevated revenue by an impressive 40% through meticulous customer segmentation, strategic test plans, and lifecycle marketing initiatives, generating an additional $80M in sales.

  • HSBC

    HSBC

    7 years

    • HSBC Graphic

      Senior Marketing Manager (Promoted)

      HSBC

      - 7 years

      Mettawa, IL

      Partnered and interacted at all levels to develop integrated marketing plans and overall business strategy tied to HSBC, partner goals and customer insights:

      ➜ Improved repeat sales 25% YoY via innovative, integrated email and direct mail marketing.
      ➜ Grew sales 30% via partnering with sales team to deliver multichannel marketing activities.
      ➜ Expanded card sales by more than 60% via Menards customer lifecycle management program.

    • HSBC Graphic

      Marketing Manager

      HSBC

      - 2 years

      Prospect Heights, IL

      Formulated and executed marketing strategy for large-scale Specialty, Electronic and Furniture partners. Implemented multi-channel acquisition and card activation campaigns, online, direct mail and in-store.

      ➜ Grew ROI by 30% via working with CRM team on enhanced customer segmentation strategies.

Education

Licenses & Certifications

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Volunteer Experience

  • DECA Inc. Graphic

    Volunteer & Judge

    DECA Inc.

    - Present less than a year

    Education

    DECA is a nationwide organization that prepares students for careers in business-related fields through leadership development, real-world experiences, and competitive events.

  • Feed My Starving Children Graphic

    Volunteer

    Feed My Starving Children

    - Present 13 years

    Social Services

    Always a big fan and to share my time to help in the effort to Feed people in need.

  • YMCA Graphic

    Volunteer

    YMCA

    - Present 13 years

    Children

    Very rewarding experience. I love working with kids.

  • KaBOOM! Graphic

    Volunteer

    KaBOOM!

    - less than a year

    Children

    Really cool experience to build a playground for under privileged children!

  • Make-A-Wish® Illinois Graphic

    Project Manager

    Make-A-Wish® Illinois

    - Present 26 years 11 months

    Children

Skills

Courses

  • Stephen Covey 7 Habits of Highly Successful People

    -

Projects

  • Best Buy Portfolio: Mass Credit Card Reissue

    Reissue new credit card plastics to more than 15MM current Best Buy cardholders. Campaign had multiple offers and test cells and communication (pre and post) was timed according to the mail date.

    Drove over $100MM Incremental Sales via omni-channel marketing.

Honors & Awards

  • Marketing Growth Star

    Synchrony

    Awarded to individual for driving profitable growth to our partners.

  • Summit International Creative Award

    Summit International Awards Organization (SIA)

    The Summit International Awards (SIA) organization is dedicated to furthering excellence in the communications industry. It administers three distinguished award competitions throughout the year with the goal of raising the awareness of companies and individuals who have the creative and marketing talent to go beyond the ordinary. Using stringent evaluation criteria and blind judging processes, its competitions reward only those firms whose work exemplifies the best in its class. Over the…

    The Summit International Awards (SIA) organization is dedicated to furthering excellence in the communications industry. It administers three distinguished award competitions throughout the year with the goal of raising the awareness of companies and individuals who have the creative and marketing talent to go beyond the ordinary. Using stringent evaluation criteria and blind judging processes, its competitions reward only those firms whose work exemplifies the best in its class. Over the 24-year history of the awards, submissions have been received from 55 countries across five continents

  • Client Marketing Leadership Award

    Synchrony Financial

    In appreciation of my leadership and dedicated service on the BP credit card program from 2015-2017.

  • Spark Award (Responsible, Driven, Bold)

    Synchrony

    Tom has done a tremendous job building and launching 6 brand new lifecycle programs from scratch for the BP portfolio over the past 3 months. The programs include our Welcome Kit, CLI’s, Inactive/Never Active, Benefit Reminder Email, Add-a-Card, and a Seasonal Spend and Get. These programs are expected to generate north of $60MM in incremental sales over the next year.

  • Marketing Innovation Award

    Household International

    The Marketing Innovation Award is given to a consumer finance marketing professional who leads product innovation. This recipient works in collaboration with finance, legal, compliance, operations and enterprise risk to develop marketing programs that drive profitable growth for the organization.

  • Marketing Excellence Award

    Household International

    Awarded for developing and executing new and innovative marketing programs that generated in excess of $50 MM in incremental spend on the private label credit card.

  • Dean's List

    Lewis University

    While enrolled at Lewis University I was awarded a spot on the Dean's list for academic achievement for numerous semesters.

  • President's Plate Award

    Discover Financial Services

    The President’s Plate Award carries a rich tradition at Discover. For more than two decades, the award has been presented to employees who have achieved exemplary business results while exhibiting Discover’s values.

  • Profitable Growth Star

    HSBC

    The Profitable Growth Star Award is given to a consumer finance professional with emphasis on managing credit risk to deliver sustained profitability. This recipient works in collaboration with finance, legal, compliance, operations and enterprise risk to develop strategies and policies that balance risk for the organization.

Organizations

  • Synchrony Veterans Network

    Veterans Network Commendation Committee Leader

    -

    The Veterans Network Commendation Committee Leader: • Influence in a Matrix environment by building cross functional relationships with audio/visual, employee communications, and marketing teams. • Lead Associate Employees, Managers of People, Exempt Employees and Remote Employees, and manage 3rd party relationships. • Project Management of wing-to-wing initiatives. • Strategy Development, overseeing the implementation of key initiatives. • Gain Senior Leadership interaction through Executive…

    The Veterans Network Commendation Committee Leader: • Influence in a Matrix environment by building cross functional relationships with audio/visual, employee communications, and marketing teams. • Lead Associate Employees, Managers of People, Exempt Employees and Remote Employees, and manage 3rd party relationships. • Project Management of wing-to-wing initiatives. • Strategy Development, overseeing the implementation of key initiatives. • Gain Senior Leadership interaction through Executive Board participation.

  • American Marketing Association (AMA)

    Member

  • Chicago Direct Marketing Association (CADM)

    Member

  • Chicago District Golf Association (CDGA)

    Member

  • Executive Network Group of Greater Chicago (ENG)

    Member

  • United States Golf Association (USGA)

    Member

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