CarMax has selected McKinney as its new lead creative agency, the automotive retailer has confirmed.
The company spends about $60 million in media annually. The selection came after a review in which there were two other finalists: BBDO in Atlanta and The Martin Agency in Richmond, Va. Final presentations took place on Friday and Monday at CarMax's headquarters in Richmond.
In a statement, CarMax chief marketing officer Jim Lyski said that he looked forward to working with McKinney to "tell our unique story and connect the brand with consumers."
As lead agency, McKinney succeeds Silver + Partners in New York, which did not participate in the review. Silver, formerly known as Amalgamated, has worked on the brand since 2010 and created this year's "Slow Clap" ad for the Super Bowl.
The search coincided with the installation of a new CMO. Lyski, the former marketing chief at Scotts Miracle-Gro, arrived in August, filling a vacancy left by the December 2012 exit of Joseph Kunkel, who was svp of marketing and strategy.