That was fast. Shortly after final presentations late last week, American Eagle Outfitters has selected the team of Arnold and MediaCom to handle its global business, according to sources.
Account revenue is estimated at $2 million. The selection capped a three-month review in which the teams of Deutsch and Initiative and Leo Burnett and Starcom were the other finalists.
After years of working with different agencies in different regions, American Eagle is shifting toward a global agency model. The move coincides with the arrival of new CEO Robert Hanson, a former top executive at Levi's.
The assignment includes the retailer’s namesake brand as well as Aerie and 77kids. Future media spending is estimated at $35 million annually, about $25 million of it in the U.S., according to sources.
The finalists emerged from a field of six agencies that American Eagle executives visited in February. Ark Advisors in New York managed the process.
Ark referred a call to the Pittsburgh-based American Eagle, which had no immediate comment.