Caraline Brown, the founder and public face of Brighton PR agency Midnight Communications, has stepped down as managing director of the company.

She has been replaced by Sarah Ogden, who joined Midnight in 2001 to run the firm's business intelligence unit and later became director of strategy and planning.

Ms Brown, who started the company with a £2,000 bank loan in 1995, will fill the newly-created role of chief talent officer, overseeing training and staff development.

She said: "After 12 years at the helm it is time for a new challenge. Recruiting the best people has always been a key factor in Midnight's success.

"I now plan to take this a step further by devoting my time to ensuring the PR professionals within Midnight are the best trained in the business."

Ms Brown said Ms Ogden had "made a major contribution" to Midnight's success and had "matured as both a business person and a PR practitioner".

She added: "I am confident Sarah offers the energy, enthusiasm and skills that will keep the consultancy on the upward trend on which we are set."

Ms Ogden said: "It is a great privilege for me to take responsibility for the dayto- day running of Midnight and to lead a team of passionate and switched-on people.

"Caraline will be a hard act to follow but I couldn't wish for a better teacher.

She added: "I am proud to have the opportunity to put my own special stamp on an already successful company.

I have a few plans up my sleeve."

The company has won numerous awards under Ms Brown's stewardship.

But it has been a rollercoaster ride for the 48-year-old former social worker who worked in women's hostels before embarking on a radical career change.

In 2001 she sold the company to a London advertising agency for £3.5 million but the firm collapsed in the dot.com crash and not all the money was paid.

In 2003, Ms Brown bought it back for £325,000 and has since established the firm as one of the largest independent PR agencies south of London.

Based in Foundry Street, it employs 20 people and runs the Brighton and Hove Business Awards. Its clients include the Notting Hill Carnival, Channel 4, Fujifilm and The Daily Mail Group.