Josh Isay

Josh Isay is a nationally recognized leader in advertising, public relations, and electoral politics. As co-founder and CEO of SKDK, Josh helped redefine the public affairs and political consulting business. Under his leadership, SKDK became the first consultancy to successfully, and at scale, apply the persuasion and marketing skills of political campaigns to help the world’s most recognizable corporate brands, philanthropies, and non-profits.

Working with an unparalleled group of partners, Josh grew SKDK into a renowned, award-winning communications powerhouse. Today, SKDK is widely regarded as the leading political and public affairs consulting company in the U.S., with over 225 employees and revenue approaching $100 million.

SKDK played a leading role in electing two Presidents, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and hundreds of Senators, Governors, Members of Congress, Mayors, and state and local officials. It has been at the center of virtually every important national debate of the last twenty years, from marriage equality to climate change, from racial justice to a woman’s right to choose.

Prior to helping found SKDK, Josh spent a decade working on electoral campaigns and in government. At the age of twenty-three, he became Press Secretary to then-Congressman Charles Schumer and from there steadily rose through the office ranks: as House Chief of Staff, Campaign Manager in Schumer’s historic inaugural race for Senate and finally as his first Senate Chief of Staff. In his book, Positively American, Schumer wrote, “Josh had one of the brightest minds of anyone I had ever met. He was fearless, strategic and tactical.”

Josh stepped down as CEO of SKDK at the end of 2022. Over the past year, he has been consulting on various issues and working with the Democratic National Committee.