Chris Lloyd, one of the founders of Dinosaur, has left the advertising and design company he launched in 1999.
A source close to the agency confirmed: “There is nothing underhand or untoward going on, but yes Chris has left Dinosaur.”
Lloyd himself remained tight-lipped about his departure, issuing a strict “no comment” to all enquiries from How-Do about his current and future plans.
One former colleague commented: “Chris is leaving Dinosaur because he wants to do something different – that’s been well known for about three months now. I doubt there’s any ill-feeling between Chris and anybody there – it’s always been a tightly knit team.”
It is also believed that rumours that Lloyd’s decision to depart suggested animosity between him and newly appointed chief executive, Grant Mercer, are wide of the mark, with one source describing them as “mates”.
Lloyd, 41, would also not be drawn on suggestion that his future plans involve the launch of a new agency in Manchester. However, any such launch would be subject to agreement being reached on his contractual obligations and is unlikely to take place in the next three months.
Internally the move is not being seen as a split in Dinosaur with existing clients and staff being “divvied up”. “This is Chris Lloyd going solo, not a schism,” said an insider.
Dinosaur co- founders
Under the terms of his contract, it is likely Lloyd’s shares in the business will be acquired by Mark Beaumont, Lloyd’s original partner, and not, as has been rumoured, transferred to Mercer.
Under Lloyd and Beaumont’s joint stewardship, Dinosaur was one of the key players in the new wave of Manchester agencies – including Love and True North – which successfully blurred the boundaries between advertising and design. Its current client list includes Gola, Salford City Council, West Properties, Selfridges and Urbis.
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