The Monkeys’ co-founder Justin Drape takes over Caxton chairman role from Rob Belgiovane
Justin Drape, co-founder and executive creative director of The Monkeys, has been named the new Caxtons chairman, effective immediately.
Drape’s appointment was announced today at the conclusion of the 2011 Caxton Seminar and Awards by incumbent chairman Rob Belgiovane, who is stepping down from the role after four successful years.
Drape has been at the forefront of the Caxtons for several years, having been a speaker at the seminar, chairman of judges, a multi-Caxton award winner and always an enthusiastic delegate. He also has an innate and broad understanding of the nature of newspapers, across their traditional printed form and the new platforms that have been developing in recent years.
Commenting on his new appointment, Drape said today: “It’s a privilege to be taking on this role at a time when newspapers are evolving as multi-platform brands and presenting new opportunities for creativity. I’m especially honoured to follow in the footsteps of Rob, who has done a brilliant job as Chairman and host over the past four years, especially in attracting such inspiring speakers to the Caxtons as David Droga, Craig Davis, John Polson, Nick Law, and of course this year Jon Kamen.”
Rob Belgiovane (left), who took over four years ago as Caxton chairman from Tom Moult, said today: “After four years it’s the appropriate time to hand the mantle of Caxtons Chairman to new blood, and frankly we couldn’t be more delighted that someone as talented, enthusiastic and dedicated to his craft as Justin is stepping up to the plate.”
He added that it was particularly gratifying as chairman to see the introduction of numerous innovations to the Caxtons in the past four years, including this year alone the Caxton Cadets, the Caxton Quandary and the new digital award categories.
Says Belgiovane: “I’m enormously grateful to The Newspaper Works and the newspaper publishers for their significant ongoing investment in the Caxtons, and to the Two de Force team, who have ensured that the only off-site, two-day creative forum in our industry is always superbly organised and memorable for all who attend.
I hope I’ve always done my best to maintain the great traditions of the Caxtons, so brilliantly established and nurtured by my predecessors including Bryce Courtenay, Ray Black and Tom Moult, and I wish Justin and all of the Caxton Committee every success for the future.
And finally, I’m naturally looking forward to attending the Caxtons next year, but without the Chairman’s hat on for a change.”
Justin Drape’s advertising campaigns have been awarded at Cannes, CLIO, One Show, AWARD, British Television Advertising Awards, and accepted into D&AD. He’s also been a judge at Cannes, AWARD, NZ AXIS and Chairman of Judges at the Caxton Awards and PADC.
Drape and creative partner Scott Nowell co-wrote and directed “Losing Face”, an award winning short film that premiered at The Melbourne International Comedy Festival and later aired on The Comedy Channel, and his second short film, “Being Boston”, was a 2007 Sony Tropfest finalist. Justin’s book, I Can Do Anything (written for client, Kids for Life) has been accepted into the National Library of Australia.
He was an executive producer and writer on the hit SBS TV show, My Family Feast, and co-creator and writer of the critically acclaimed TV comedy-drama series, :30 Seconds, both of which were nominated for Logies and Australian Film Institute awards.
The Monkeys was named 2010 B&T Advertising Agency of the Year, Australian Creative Advertising Hotshop of the Year and ranked No.1 Agency in Australia by AdNews magazine.