Aflac has its new spokesduck.
A 36-year-old radio station sales manager from Hugo, Minn., was named Tuesday as the Columbus insurance company's commercial voice after a month-long competition that drew 12,500 live and online auditions.
Dan McKeague, who submitted online, was audition No. 5,184. While the winner wasn't a big name, he does have experience doing local voice-overs. He works for KQRS and Love 105 in Minneapolis.
He will replace comic Gilbert Gottfried, who was fired after he joked about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
"I have long admired people who can act and make the most of their voice and have tried to emulate them," McKeague said.
He called the Aflac duck, "the greatest icon in corporate America." He'll be well compensated. McKeague will earn in the low six-figures annually for a week or two of work each year, according to Aflac.
McKeague will be given some voice lessons, and then he'll start voicing existing commercials, replacing Gottfried's famed quack. He'll also lend his voice to Aflac's line of quacking plush dolls. He'll probably voice his first original spot sometime this fall.
McKeague was one of three finalists who lent their voice to an existing commercial that was listened to by Aflac chairman and CEO Dan Amos, president Paul Amos and chief marketing officer Michael Zuna. They were unanimous in their choice, the company said.
McKeague's audition went through multiple rounds in which fellow competitors were cut and he stood out.
"This guy is just naturally funny," Aflac spokeswoman Laura Kane said.
McKeague "nailed the character" of the duck, according to notes written by one of the audition judges, and exhibited "good, throaty range," according to another.
Said Kane, "Whatever that mysterious thing is that the Aflac duck needs to have, he has it."
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