From the release:

Reinforcing their investment in internal talent, Scholar has chosen Kirsten Noll as their new Managing Director. This latest transition signifies a shift in Kirsten’s focus from project dynamics to decisions about the company’s future—a partner in shaping the studio’s culture, creative catalog, and roster of collaborators.

With nearly two decades of experience working with top-tier, industry-defining brands, Kirsten started with Scholar in 2015. She is passionate about design-driven, multidisciplinary narratives and has a diverse portfolio across the full gamut of production pipelines, including live-action, design/animation, and VFX. Her work has won multiple Cannes Lions, Telly, Commarts, ADC, and Clio awards.

Kirsten’s role is driven by passion and curiosity as she showcases Scholar as a world-class creative studio where talented people bring their full humanity to their work. She is an advocate of confidence and self-worth, fostering mentorship and an inclusive, positive environment throughout the creative process. Kirsten herself puts it best: “Our people care about the work and the people they work with—clients and artists alike. I want to continue finding partners who believe in building an environment that leads with creativity and compassion, people who want to talk things through, solve problems together, and imagine better outcomes.”

She is a tone-setter, full stop. Internally, bringing the studio together through events, celebrations, and a listening ear; externally, calming nerves, aligning visions, and opening space for exploration. According to Scholar’s Co-Founder & Director William Campbell, “her time at Scholar has made her the epitome of Scholar’s creative problem-solving mentality.

She brings an innovative eye to production planning that is as quick, adaptable, and refreshing as our lightning-fast process. She sets the pace with Scholar’s desire to be at the forefront of what’s new. Whether that’s a technique, field, platform, or solution for a long-standing partner, she has the expertise and excitement to back it up.”

Given the bespoke nature of Scholar’s work as a style-agnostic studio that handles everything from strategy and campaign planning to design, animation, and live-action, it was vital to find the tightest of teammates, and Kirsten knows Scholar inside and out. As Co-Founder and Director, Will Johnson says, “Kirsten has an innate instinct for fostering the longevity of partnership that Scholar loves best.

She is so ingrained with everybody. She loves talking with every artist, being part of the barometer, catching up with past collaborators, and being thoughtful towards old industry friends. And most importantly, she values the creative and production talent equally. That’s Scholar at its finest.”

With a knack for always finding the cool thing, whether it’s restaurants across the globe or the next up-and-coming partner, Scholar is excited for the new ideas, relationships, and creative energy Kirsten’s leadership will bring to the studio’s next chapter.