The Hallway, Sydney creative partner and joint owner Simon Lee named new Caxton chairman

CB Exclusive: The Caxton Committee has announced that highly accomplished creative director Simon Lee has accepted its invitation to become Caxton chairman this year.

Lee is currently creative partner and joint owner at The Hallway, which he joined in 2010 after a stellar career in advertising that began in France 14 years ago.

Says Lee: “The Caxtons has a rich creative history and I’m both honoured and excited to play a role in this next chapter.”

After graduating in French and Philosophy and a period living and working in Japan, Lee joined McCann Erickson in Paris in 2000 where he worked as a bilingual French/English copywriter.

He moved to Sydney in 2003 where he joined leading independent agency Lavender and was rapidly promoted to creative director.

Lee joined The Hallway as creative partner in 2010. As the architect and leader of The Hallway’s creative offering he fuses his direct and mainstream experience with a passion for storytelling.

2012 saw him complete his debut feature film – Dream Racer that he wrote, produced and directed. Dream Racer has since won awards at film festivals in Los Angeles and Barcelona.

Lee has now won awards in a multitude of disciplines: entertainment, media, PR, Direct, advertising and branded content, including Cannes Lions, multiple Caples golds and an ADMA Grand Prix.

Says Justin Drape, outgoing chairman: “It was an honour to chair the 2012 Caxtons and become a part of its 38 year history. I wish Simon and the Committee all the best in taking the event forward.”

More announcements will be made in coming weeks about this year’s Caxtons.