• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, February 13, 2009

Carat has added a second top research executive in the last month, with Theresa LaMontagne joining from Yahoo as senior vice president of data analytics and insights. The agency said she will focus on "bringing together behavioral data with consumer research."

Mike Hess was recently named executive vice president of research, marketing science and consumer insight. LaMontagne will report to Hess and will work with Michelle Lynn, senior vice president at Carat Insight, who zeroes in on offline media research and insights.

Previously, LaMontagne was director, media and sales research at Yahoo--a position that included oversight of all domestic ad sales research. She began her career far from Madison Avenue in clinical neonatal development research after graduating with a psychology degree.

Coming to Carat, however, marks her return to the agency business, having served as a communication insights executive at BBDO/OMD before her tenure at Yahoo.

Carat President Martin Cass said LaMontagne will be part of an effort to "expand and grow our product and offering...," adding that her hiring will enhance the company's stance as a "consumer-centric, digitally ahead media company."

LaMontagne says the media landscape is becoming more complex, and her focus is helping clients understand "consumer motivations, behavior and advertising performance holistically."