Adrian Lawrence has become global executive creative director of Heckler its ambition to expand beyond traditional post-production into a more integrated, design-led creative studio model. Chosen for his deeply considered approach to storytelling, grounded in experimentation, collaboration and craft, he arrives at Heckler with an internationally recognised career spanning London, Europe and Australia, and experience across diverse creative cultures and disciplines.

He commented, “The challenge excites me. I’ve always stepped into boutique studios where you get to shape, change, and ultimately raise the level of creative work. With Heckler, that means helping reshape the offering into a creative studio with global ambition, alongside a high-end post-production facility.”

Lawrence’s creative philosophy is centred on curiosity and process. “Stay curious, stay humble, make mistakes, go down rabbit holes, and approach each brief like it’s your first so you stay excited,” Lawrence stated. “Connect the dots by experimenting. Create work that excites you. Trust the process.”

He will rely on a leadership style shaped by empathy and perspective and an approach to delivering impactful work rooted in collaboration and instinct, “Being exposed to different people from around the world has meant everything. It helped me learn about myself, grow, and develop patience and acceptance. The experience gained means more empathy to understand others, knowing when to push, when to make the call, and when to listen so people feel heard and valued and can create their best work.

“Creating the best work is rarely a one-person solution. I surround myself with talented people with different skill sets so we can inspire each other. From there, it’s about keeping the vision of each project in mind and listening to my gut. Visual problem solving comes first, with craft and innovation branching off from there, but every piece should land for the clients and for us.”

Heckler co-founder, Will Alexander, added, “We’ve always believed in evolving the studio beyond traditional post,” said Alexander. “Adrian shares that vision, he’s someone who can push the work, inspire the team, and help shape a truly world-class creative offering.”

The appointment underscores Heckler’s continued investment in creative excellence, innovation and globally competitive storytelling, as the studio expands its capabilities across design, VFX, AI-driven workflows and integrated production.

“I’ve always worked for studios that adapt, experiment, and push what’s possible,” Lawrence noted. “Mixing tech and using it in ways it wasn’t meant to be used triggers unique results. Feeling comfortable in the uncomfortable matters, but using taste and instinct to know what to leave out is just as important as what you put in. That’s where the unseen starts to show up.”