• September 19, 2011

Esurance has selected Leo Burnett Chicago as its new agency of record following a review that included Deutsch LA, Duncan/Channon, Goodby Silverstein & Partners and Venables Bell & Partners.

The relationship will be managed from Leo Burnett's Chicago office, which will begin working immediately on a new advertising campaign.

In May 2011, White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to sell Esurance and Answer Financial to The Allstate Corporation, the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. The transaction is subject to regulatory and other customary closing conditions, including review by antitrust authorities and state regulators and is expected to close in the fall of 2011.

Following the closing, Allstate has indicated that the Esurance and Allstate brands will remain distinct, with each company serving a separate target segment with a different value proposition. Esurance focuses on consumers who prefer to shop for and buy car insurance online.

Leo Burnett, which has been the longtime ad agency for Allstate, will service Esurance with a separate team. --Tanya Irwin