Principles Agency has parted company with business development director Richard Dudleston, who has been with the firm for 15 years.

Managing director, Mike Hackett said Dudleston felt he had “achieved everything he could within his role”, and that his departure was the result of being “ready for a new challenge”.

Hackett said: “As we were both keen to continue our relationship we did discuss a number of new business opportunities that Richard could take up with part-funding and support from the agency but, due to the current financial climate, Richard and the board concurred that it wasn’t quite the time to risk what would have essentially been a new business start up.”

Rumours Dudleston was set to leave the business circulated at the same time as the agency confirmed the exit of board director, Katie Johnston in March. While Hackett insisted Dudleston would not be leaving the business then, he did hint at a shake-up within the agency over the coming months.

With his Principles departure now confirmed, Dudleston insisted he had simply felt the time was right to move on. He said: “At some stage, you have to decide that it’s time to move on and see what else there is ‘out there’ and – for me – now is that time.  I will always keep a proud eye on Principles and know we’ll all stay in touch and remain great friends.”

Dudleston said he felt he had “grown up professionally” during his 15 years with the agency.

Paying tribute to his former colleague, Hackett added that he was “immensely grateful” for Dudleston’s contribution during his time with the agency. “We know that whatever he chooses to do next will be a great success and wish him luck and happiness.”

Dudleston arrived at Principles as account director and rose to managing director in 1999.  He took up the business development director post in 2006.