• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, September 9, 2016

Ad veteran Greg Andersen has returned to his Midwestern roots. Omaha, NE-based  agency Bailey Lauerman has named the Nebraska native CEO.

Andersen replaces Andy Fletecher who abruptly departed in July following a state audit that found Bailey Lauerman had overrun contracts with the Nebraska Tourism Commission by $4.4 million for work related to the state’s “Visit Nebraska. Vice Nice,” tourism campaign.

Most recently Andersen served as president of Omnicom’s RAPP U.S., where he’s credited with honing the shop’s data and technology capabilities. He left earlier this year and subsequently filed a discrimination and retaliation law suit against the agency and its then CEO Alexei Orlov who left in June, a few weeks after the suit was filed. That case is ongoing in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Andersen is a 25-year Adland veteran who has worked with brands such as Google, Cadillac, Westin Hotels and Mattel.

Prior to RAPP he was CEO at BBH US and earlier served at EURO RSCG, Merkley + Partners and Lowe Worldwide.

“Greg knows how to inspire teams to develop the kind of work that brands need to be successful today – work that is emotional, culturally relevant and harnesses the continuous evolution of media and technology,” stated Carter Weitz, chairman and chief creative officer for Bailey Lauerman. “He also has a great deal of integrity – something that is demonstrated in what clients and colleagues consistently say about working with him, as well as in his commitment to fostering change that is needed in our industry.”