Darren Brandt and Whit Clay, partners and managing directors of New York-based Sloane & Company, have been named co-CEOs of the specialist corporate and financial PR shop, succeeding founder and CEO Elliot Sloane.

Brandt, Clay
Brandt, Clay

Brandt and Clay’s appointment becomes effective immediately. Sloane, who founded the MDC partner unit in 1998, will remain with the firm in an advisor role.

The leadership transition had been several months in the making. Sloane, who prior to opening his agency served as financial media relations VP and director at Ruder Finn as well as executive VP and general manager of Edelman practice Edelman Financial Worldwide, said in a statement that given the agency’s “series of record years and even stronger performance through the first quarter of 2016, there could be no better time for my talented colleagues to take the helm.”

“I am proud of the world-class communications firm we have built at Sloane & Company — one widely acknowledged as a leader in public relations, investor relations, crisis, public affairs and high-stakes transaction work,” Sloane said.

Agency officials with knowledge of the transition told O'Dwyer's that Sloane will continue to work with some of the firm clients — somewhere between 10 and 12 — in areas that interest him.