Creative Neil Lawrence dies suddenly during surfing holiday
Neil Lawrence
One of Australia’s most respected creatives Neil Lawrence has died during a surfing holiday in the Maldives.
Lawrence was responsible for a slew of high profile and respected creative work including campaigns like Kevin 07, the Minerals Council of Australia’s successful campaign opposing the resources super tax to ‘Keep Mining Strong’ and Qantas’ recent “Feels like home” brand campaign.
He was the principal of Lawrence Creative Strategy and executive creative director of STW, Australia’s largest communications group.
A gentleman with a well ordered mind – respectful and intelligent – Neil – way too soon mate
This is truly awful news.
He was a brilliant man with many great ideas still left to share. As sad as it is for this industry, it cannot compare with the sadness his family will be feeling. My thoughts go to them.
What can one say?
One the most respected, intelligent and fair-minded in the business
Always ahead of the game
So very sad for his family
I am shocked, one of the good guys
how tragic. my thoughts are with his family
One of the most talented and genuinely nice guys in the biz. Rest in peace mate.
A beautiful man with a beautiful, razor sharp mind.
I was privileged to work with him, but even more so to call him a friend.
I’ll miss you mate.
Much respect, great guy. RIP
Vale cool dude
A truly amazing advertising minds & nice guy gone too soon. It was a pleasure to have worked with you in 07. Rest in peace
Can’t believe it, very sad news. Great ad guy and partner during our election time. RIP Neil
Absolutely tragic – am in shock. A brilliant creative and strategic mind, and just an amazingly beautiful soul. I have the absolute pleasure of working with Neil when he ran Whybin Lawrence TBWA and worked on Apple – before Apple was a thing! Too sad for words.
Very sad news. He was true gentleman. My thoughts are with his friends and family.
I was fortunate enough to have worked with Neil over the years. Great mind. Strong point of view. Too early. My thoughts & prayers are with his family.
An all rounder, with great skill and natural instinct. The business will miss someone with the ability to cut through the crap and connect with people. He’s been a big part of many successful people.
Thoughts are with his family and friends. Such terrible news.
What a loss. A really great guy with tons of talent and integrity.
Vale to one of the good guys. Worked with him when he was Whybins on some campaigns. Insightful and a decent human being.
Shocked. My love and thoughts to his family and memory.
One of the good guys. Played a great blues harp too. Never forget Billy Thorpe at rehearsal of Crazy for the Award night: “There’s no no fucking mouth organ in this song.” A couple of years later Neil and I had a great laugh about it. RIP mate.
This is too, too sad – a good man has been taken much too soon.
My thoughts are with Caroline, Tom and Anna.
Neil held the door open for a lot of young guys like me to charge through and stake our place in Australian advertising – he loved nothing more than to see the people he’d picked, go on to better things and do greater work.
We’re all spiritually poorer without him here.
Completely saddened by this tragic news. A great friend and mentor. My thoughts are with Caroline, Anna and Tom.
Fearsomely smart. One of the few in advertising that could truly claim to be creative and strategist.
Vale Neil.
Terrible news. He was a great leader and a lovely person. Thoughts are with his family.
Forever generous with his gifts, his passion and his friendship. Can’t believe I won’t see you again mate. RIP
One of the good guys indeed. We’ll miss you mate. Thoughts with Tom, Anna and Caroline.
Thanks for the home made sourdough and Saurkraut neil.thanks for being our friend and inspiration . Too sad.
Very, very sad news, Vale Neil.
In project after project, Neil set out to show that the world isn’t fair. His passing proves it once again. You are one of our best and your ideas, humour and friendship will be missed. Our thoughts with Caroline, Tom and Anna.
Such sad news to hear tonight of Neils death :Thank you Neil for helping in those very early days to make Freds dreams come true : we are sure you will be having a well deserved whiskey with Fred ! Our love to all your family xx
So very sad to hear this news, very fond memories of a clever, kind ,creative man and father,
Our thoughts are with Caroline, Anna and Tom
A lovely man – gentle and humble despite his towering heights of intelligence and creativity. A loving partner and father. A generous friend. Inclusive, encompassing, always ready to share. I remember a glorious jazz pianist and accomplished guitarist. I remember a call from a balcony in Positano when he, Caroline and we happened to coincide there a few years ago, and spent many hours then and later talking about life, politics and the whole damn thing. Caroline, my heart breaks for you and the children. With enormous sympathy and respect from Lesley and Robin x
Veery saddened and shocked by Neil’s passing. A wonderful man and a creative genius. My sincere condolences to his family.
The saddest news. That brilliant mind and that huge heart. And those laughing eyes.
Wonderful knowing you mate. Our thoughts with Caroline, Tom and Anna.
Such sad and devastating news.
My heart reaches out to Neil’s lovely family, his work colleagues and friends.
It was a heat honour to work with him and the agency over recent years.
Sad news. I was having a laugh with him only a couple of months ago, talking about the old days at Chandler Hambleton Mier/MDA when he first did political advertising.
Needless to say Jeff Kennent wasn’t happy.
Neil was the best kind of CD. Thoughtful with his criticism, generous with his praise, happy to take a punt on someone new and willing to fight hard to get a great idea made. He was unique in that while he loved an award and commercial success, what he really wanted was to create change. I’m grateful to have known him but so sad I won’t see him again. Thoughts with Tom, Anna and Caroline.
Sad news – was lucky enough to work with Neil and the LCS team on a couple of campaigns.Great thinker, tactician and general all round nice guy – ripping guy!
Condolences to the family and all those close to Neil
I was lucky enough to work as Neil’s PA many years ago.
He was an amazing person, full of generosity and integrity.
He taught me about art, music, food, wine and to never give up.
I’ve since gone on to do things in my career that I’m sure I wouldn’t have had the courage to do had it not been for Neil.
My thoughts are with Caroline, Anna and Tom.
Neil had that calming, authoratative voice that made clients believe. Just watch him on Gruen. Was my priveledge to see him at work presenting to the twitchy Combank clients at SOM. He also fearlessly steered Qantas back out of the ‘quirky’ quagmire that Droga led them into. The Grenwich ferry will be sad.
Deeply saddened and shocked by your leaving, Neil. You were a bright light in our lives. Your voice stays in my mind.
A great man. Privileged to have known and been inspired by Neil. Rest In Peace.
Such a shame the respect and admiration we have for people is too often only voiced when they’re gone.
Neil would have had a wicked twinkle in his eye at reading the comments in recent days. Cheers to you Neil! Caroline, Anna and Tom, I was another of the many young talents Neil invested in (in Adelaide and in Sydney) and his impression on me is lasting. My thoughts are with you.
Only brief, but a lasting impression was made during my tenure at STW. Rest in peace.