Ameriprise Gets a New Lead Agency

McCann Erickson Detroit has beaten three other finalists to land the company's core creative account, with annual media spending of nearly $40 million. The selection comes five weeks after final presentations.

Sources identified the other contenders as FCB Garfinkel, Merkley + Partners and Zimmerman Advertising.

As lead shop, McCann succeeds Interpublic Group sibling R/GA, which had handled the business since 2009 and didn't participate in the review.

McCann will seek to take an "already highly-visible and trusted brand to the next level," said Mel Smart, general manager of the Detroit office.

The Minneapolis-based Ameriprise could not immediately be reached.

News of the search first surfaced in January, after it had reached its final stage. Pile + Co. in Boston managed the process.