New York City-based Merrill Lynch & Company, Inc., has selected Mark Eckerline to lead the company's Minneapolis operations, company spokeswoman Selena Morris confirmed Monday.

Eckerline, who joined Merrill Lynch in 2006 after 27 years at Minneapolis-based Piper Jaffray & Company, replaces Doug King as director of the Minneapolis complex for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. According to Morris, King stepped down in October and served as director of the company's Minneapolis operations since 2004.

King also served as Minnesota president for Bank of America Corporation-which owns Merrill Lynch. That position has not yet been filled, Morris said.

Eckerline started his career at Merrill Lynch as a financial advisor in the company's Wayzata office. Shortly after joining the firm, he was promoted to resident director for the Wayzata office.

In his new position, Eckerline will oversee the business activities for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Minneapolis, which employs about 375.

Eckerline graduated from the University of Minnesota, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in finance and economics with a minor in speech communication.

He is active in several local organizations, including the Ronald McDonald House, and serves on the board of directors for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.