Google affiliate network executive Chris Henger has left the internet search giant and is now working for marketing solutions firm, Catalina Marketing.

The US behaviour-based marketing services provider has nabbed Henger to run its Digital Services division in a move that is all over the newspapers, and, of course, on the online news portals.

Henger’s original move to Google was almost an accident. He was working in a team at Performics, which provides interactive marketing services. This firm was bought out by DoubleClick in 2004 and later Google purchased DoubleClick – and the rest is history.

Henger reportedly played a key part in the integrating of DoubleClick and Google’s Affiliate Network launch.

Now, in his role at Catalina, Henger is set to take over the store network. This is said to comprise 90 million US households and 300 million weekly shoppers. The presence of Henger and his skills set is intended to boost Catalina's emerging digital media presence. The decision to hire Henger follows a recent deal Catalina struck with Nielsen Co., which will see its in-store shopping data augmented with consumer media exposure data.