Burns will work across the UK and internationally to evaluate the company's potential to enter the search market. She will consult with advertising agencies, existing clients and customers to access the company's opportunities within the search space.
Burns left in July, having been with the company since 2001 and the first Google employee appointed outside of the US. Prior to joining Google, she was pan-European sales director at Altavista.
Andy Mitchell, managing director of AdLink, said: "Kate's appointment is another indication of AdLINK's corporate maturity and its corresponding ability to attract top talent. Alongside branded sales, network sales, email, domain and affiliate marketing, we must now understand how we can operate within the search sector. And who better to help us with that than Kate Burns."
Burns said: "I have enjoyed a much needed break over the past couple of months, and I am now ready to return. I respect AdLink for its intelligent and exploratory approach to search, and I look forward to investigating its opportunities within this space."
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