SALIENT HQ provides expert research strategy, thought leadership, and data-driven insights to drive growth. Offering fractional Chief Research Officer services, it delivers high-level expertise on a flexible basis. Specializing in custom research and performance measurement, SALIENT HQ turns insights into impact. Through strategic partnerships and innovation, businesses stay ahead of industry trends.
The Journey To Change
SALIENT HQ was founded by Latha Sarathy, a seasoned research leader with over three decades of cross-industry expertise. Recognizing the gap in strategic research accessibility for growing companies, Latha established SALIENT HQ to offer top-tier strategic leadership and innovative research solutions without the overhead of full-time executives. Throughout her career she has prioritized data-driven strategy and purpose-driven initiatives, leading transformative research that has shaped industry standards, corporate strategies and brand growth. In an era increasingly influenced by AI, she champions a research approach that blends human intelligence with advanced analytics to drive meaningful outcomes for clients.
Most recently, Latha served as Chief Research Officer at the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), where she oversaw analytics, insights, and measurement initiatives. She played a pivotal role in shaping industry benchmarks for gender equality, creative effectiveness, and sustainability messaging. She also led building first-of-its kind comprehensive research ecosystem for ANA initiative SeeHer, which focuses on advancing gender representation in media, and evolving the role of the ASK Research Service, the ANA’s business intelligence division.
Before the ANA, Latha was SVP, Insights & Strategy Activation at Ipsos North America, managing a multi-million-dollar portfolio of global consumer insights projects for top media and technology companies. She has also led high-performing, data-driven research teams at major media organizations including NBCUniversal, CBS, Univision, Disney Publications, Interactive One, and Wenner Media.
A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Latha has delivered impactful presentations at Cannes Lions, ANA conferences, Advertising Week, ARF, Comexposium Japan, and CTAM. She is also deeply committed to knowledge-sharing, having led strategic workshops for Fortune 500 brands such as American Express, Walmart, Georgia Pacific, and General Mills—helping organizations unlock insights that fuel innovation and business growth.
Vision
Through SALIENT HQ, Latha continues to provide research-driven strategic guidance, ensuring that companies not only harness the power of data but also apply it in ways that are actionable, insightful, and transformative