Adrian Scott

From cycling solo to streamlining finance operations, Adrian Scott’s leadership is defined by focus, resilience, and a quiet commitment to progress.

We caught up with Adrian to learn how a career that began in dead-end jobs transformed into a decade-long journey of rebuilding teams, reshaping systems, and leading with purpose at Viaplay.

The road to finance leadership

Adrian’s journey wasn’t mapped out with precision—it began with a moment of frustration:

“After my A-levels, I ended up in a series of jobs that felt completely directionless. I knew that wasn’t the life I wanted. That’s when I decided to go to university—not just for the degree, but to find something that actually engaged me.”

He found it in finance. What started as a curiosity in business modules soon developed into a clear strength and professional calling.

“It wasn’t love at first sight—but I enjoyed the finance modules, and I was good at them. That mattered to me. You spend most of your day working—why not feel confident about what you do?”

Building momentum through change

Adrian’s career has always been shaped by a need for progression. From the start, he sought out challenges that pushed him—and his teams—forward:

“I thrive on learning. Whether it’s systems, structures, or developing people—if I’m not building something, I feel stuck.”

That mindset carried him to Viaplay, where he faced a fragmented finance function: disconnected teams, isolated systems, and a lack of cohesion:

“Each team had their own way of doing things. No communication, no crossover. It just wasn’t sustainable.”

The solution? A ground-up rebuild: shared services, unified systems, and a central team that worked together—not in silos:

“Today, we’re more aligned, collaborative, and responsive. It’s unrecognisable from where we started.”

Culture before control

Adrian quickly discovered that the biggest transformation challenge wasn’t technical—it was human:

“The team was demoralised. No clarity, no trust, and no sense of direction. So we started with the basics: communication, structure, and one-on-one time.”

He helped the team understand not just their own roles, but their role in the wider business. That shift—from isolated tasks to shared purpose—was key.

“When people feel seen, supported, and aligned, everything changes.”

That people-first approach helped them weather even bigger changes, including the shift to remote and hybrid work:

“We didn’t have to force structure. We had already built trust. That gave us the flexibility to focus on outcomes over presence.”

Transformation as a mindset

Adrian doesn’t see transformation as a one-off event. For him, it’s a continual process of adaptation:

“There’s the big stuff—new systems, org changes. But there’s also everyday transformation: the willingness to rethink, to evolve, to learn. That’s what real progress looks like.”

He’s open about missteps too, recalling one project that disrupted a critical financial control system:

“We underestimated how the changes would ripple downstream. It taught me to always look for the unintended consequences—especially in finance.”

On AI and the future of finance

While Adrian is exploring AI within his team, he’s doing it thoughtfully—not reactively:

“We’re using AI in small ways, testing what works. But it’s easy to get distracted by hype. The question I always ask is: are we using the tools we already have to their full potential?”

He’s helped launch a cross-functional group at Viaplay to explore AI use cases organically, building understanding without overcommitting.

Quiet confidence, lasting impact

Adrian credits his leadership style to mentors from his early career—particularly at ITV:

“They weren’t flashy. They were calm, capable, and respected. That really stuck with me.”

Today, he leads in a similar way—by empowering others, creating space for growth, and keeping things grounded.

“You don’t need to be the loudest in the room. Just the most consistent.”

A legacy of growth and respect

Looking ahead, Adrian’s focus isn’t on recognition—it’s on people:

“I want to be remembered as someone who was fair, supportive, and helped others grow. That’s more meaningful than any title.”