• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, February 4, 2009

Mike Hess is out as the top research executive in Omnicom's global media organization, becoming the latest casualty in a creeping restructuring of Madison Avenue's media research community that appears to have been accelerated by the economic downturn. Hess, who was director of global research and communication insights at OMD Worldwide, was the victim of a reorganization of Omnicom Media Group's global research and analytics division, London-based trade magazine MediaWeek reported, adding that a "newly configured team" will be headed by OMG's Global Account Management President Kate Stephenson. An Omnicom media executive, speaking with anonymity, confirmed the moves to MediaDailyNews

Hess' departure follows an ongoing exodus of top media research executives from big Madison Avenue organizations. Last week, Publicis' ZenithOptimedia Group announced that Bruce Goerlich was out as its top research executive following a restructuring of its "strategic resources" and an "increased focus on ROI." He was replaced by Tom Love, head of strategic resources - West Coast, who was named executive vice president-strategic resources, North America.

Both Goerlich and Hess have long been considered among Madison Avenue's best and brightest media research intelligencia, and their departures come at a time when the focus of agencies is supposed to be on consumer and media insights.

Other recent departures include former Universal McCann Senior Vice President-Media Research Director Rob Frydlewicz, and Advertising Council Executive Vice President-Research & Innovation George Perlov.