The Hallway’s Simon Lee departs among leadership changes
Chief creative officer and partner of The Hallway, Simon Lee, has left the independent agency. The move coincides with other major leadership changes at the agency, including the appointments of a new executive creative director and head of media.
Lee, who has been with the agency since 2010, has left to “pursue a new opportunity”.
Important work created under Lee’s leadership includes The Men’s Table, the 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum, and what Lee has previously described as his “brainchild”, the ‘Boys Do Cry’ campaign in partnership with the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Mental Health and mental fitness foundation Gotcha4Life.
Lee speaking at a Mumbrella conference last year
“When I founded the agency, way back in 2007, I had no partners, limited experience, but a hell of a lot of ambition,” The Hallway founder Jules Hall said.
“Simon joined me three years later. Together we’ve built a brand and business that we are both incredibly proud of.
“Fast forward fourteen years and the time has come for us to forge new paths. I’d like to extend a sincere thanks to Simon for his contribution and wish him the very best in his next adventure. We’ve had a wonderful time in business together and part ways as firm friends wishing the very best for each other.”
Lee said building the agency with Hall has been an “extraordinary journey”, that has shaped him greatly over the past 14 years.
“I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved together — the work that we’ve created, the culture we’ve fostered and the impact that we’ve had on our clients’ brands and businesses,” he said.
“I’ve been blessed to work alongside some uniquely talented creative and strategic people on this journey and want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank you all (you know who you are) for our shared laughter, tears and unrelenting unreasonable commitment to bringing work that matters into the world. And as I embark on a new adventure, I wish Jules and The Hallway all the very best.”
The Hallway has made some major leadership changes in the wake of Lee’s departure, with two senior appointments across creative and media.
The Hallway’s new leadership team. (L-R): Jules Hall, Phoebe Keogh, Dan Saunders
Dan Saunders is returning to the agency as its new executive creative director, after a six month stint at Havas.
Saunders previously spent nearly two years with The Hallway, and also has extensive holdco experience at agencies including TBWA, DDB, Dentsu Creative, and VML.
Under Saunders’ guide, last year The Hallway won its first Cannes Lions in 15 years, for the ‘Cardboard Cake’.
The agency also appointed Phoebe Keogh as head of media and connections.
She joins The Hallway after eight years with UM Australia, where she was a strategic lead for clients including Menulog, ING, and Chery Motors.
In her new role, she will be responsible for the growth of the agency’s connections department.
“I’m incredibly excited to have Phoebe join our team and to welcome Dan back. Dan has been the architect of some of our most famous and impactful work in recent times. We’ve got a shared view on the type of work that drives brand growth, and the ways to deliver maximum value to our clients,” Halls said.
“Phoebe is a critical part of our next chapter. She’s one of Australia’s best communication strategists, whip smart and loved by her clients. Her ability to find the most impactful moment to connect with customers, combined with Dan’s creative leadership, is a rare and very exciting combination.”
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Lauren McNamara was the associate editor at Mumbrella. She joined in November 2022 as editorial assistant, after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS. She left Mumbrella in August 2025.
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I’ll never forget being part of a pretty corporate client team working with The Hallway and in the first creative presentation, Simon walking into present… barefoot, like it was nothing. As a 21 year old kid I thought that was pretty epic and made we think there might be a different way to do this whole ‘work’ thing. Small thing, big impact on me. All the best, Simon.
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