Brand Marketing Ameriprise Gets a New Lead Agency McCann Erickson Detroit succeeds R/GA By Andrew McMains|March 24, 2015Share By Andrew McMains|March 24, 2015Share Ameriprise Financial has found 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. Adweek Adweek