The account went up for review in October last year after incumbent agency Fallon said that it could not agree on a future strategic and creative direction for the brand with the client. It had handled the work since 1986.
Arnold will run the Lee Jeans account from its New York office, while media planning and buying is to be handled by Mediaedge:cia, also in New York. Lee Jeans' parent company VF Corp handed its consolidated media business to the WPP Group in November.
Liz Cahill, director of advertising and PR for Lee Jeans, said: "The Lee brand boasts strong heritage and consumer loyalty; matched with Arnold's proven talent for helping brands stand out in a saturated media market, we look forward to what 2006 will bring."
The review was overseen by AAR Partners.
VF Corp also owns the Wrangler jeans brand.
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .