Two more quit Imagination

Imagination has lost two more directors. Its client services director Richard Zucker has left to form his own design consultancy with the advertising agency HHCL and Partners. Colin Hatfield, Imagination’s group projects director, is joining Zucker.

The departures follow those of Dilys Maltby, also a client services director, and group creative head Jon Turner. Both joined The Body Shop in recent months.

According to sources an internal refocus is underway, but Zucker says his decision to leave Imagination has “nothing to do with the internal changes. My personal needs and ambitions and the fact that I have a stake in the business with more control meant this was an opportunity I couldn’t avoid taking up”.

The new venture will be called IRL – In Real Life – and will operate from HHCL’s London offices while it looks for premises of its own. HHCL and Zucker both have equity interests in the business.

IRL will “take advantage of the growing importance to marketing communications of `experience design’ for face-to-face activities, including events, exhibitions, roadshows and permanent facilities”, says Zucker.

Zucker is currently putting a team together which will consist of “at least four creators. We’ll be creating mixed media experiences and want to employ people with a range of design skills – 2D, audio visual and 3D”.