Hat-Trick founder to go it alone

David Kimpton, one of the three founders of Hat-Trick Design, is leaving to set up his own group.

Kimpton will leave next month and his new consultancy will start up in March.

Hat-Trick co-founders Jim Sutherland and Gareth Howat will continue to run the group, and all parties described Kimpton’s departure as amicable.

Kimpton says he is leaving to pursue new goals, adding that he is ‘relishing the challenge’ of setting up his own consultancy.

Kimpton, Sutherland and Howat, who all formerly worked for The Partners, set up Hat-Trick in 2001. Kimpton says, ‘We achieved all our goals within about five years.’

Sutherland says, ‘We are very sad to see David go – we’re great friends.’

He adds, ‘Since we started the company, things took off for us a lot more than we expected, it took us all a little by surprise.’