Mayor Mamdani Announces Additional Appointments Across Key City Offices, Including Naming the City's First "World Cup Czar"

NEW YORK – Mayor Zohran Mamdani today announced five more appointments and re-appointments to lead critical offices and teams across city government. Mayor Mamdani appointed Stephanie Silkowski as Director of the Mayor’s Office of Appointments; Bitta Mostofi as Special Advisor for Strategic Coordination and Operations to the First Deputy Mayor; and Maya Handa as “World Cup Czar” ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Additionally, Mayor Mamdani reappointed Renee Campion as Commissioner of the Office of Labor Relations and Kim L. Yu as Director of the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services and the city’s Chief Procurement Officer. Along with the appointments announced earlier today — commissioners for the Department of Probation, Department of Citywide Administrative Services, and Department of Environmental Protection — these appointments bring deep experience across the public, private, and non-profit sector and will help fulfill Mayor Mamdani’s commitment to creating a city where working-class New Yorkers can thrive.

“These leaders prove there is no one way to serve the public. They have practiced law, helmed historic campaigns, and delivered transformational legislation. They have expanded access to child care, stood up for immigrant communities, and secured essential contracts for working people. These appointees have all demonstrated a serious, unwavering commitment to public service,” said Mayor Mamdani. “I am excited to welcome them into our administration, where they will help lead our city with the excellence, accountability, and integrity New Yorkers deserve.”

About Stephanie Silkowski

Stephanie Silkowski will serve as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Appointments. A public sector and non-profit leader, Director Silkowski has fought for over a decade to deliver substantive investments in and wins for working-class families. She previously served as Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives as well as Chief of Staff at The Bridge Project, where she helped launch and operate critical programs to support pregnant, housing-insecure New Yorkers; low-income families; food-stamp recipients; and more. She served as Chief of Staff to City Councilmember Tiffany Cabán and as Policy Director to Councilmember Brad Lander, helping steward first-in-the-nation minimum wage protections for app-based delivery workers, expanding access to critical child care services, and advancing reproductive rights and gender equity. Director Silkowski received her B.A. in Political Science and Government from Providence College as well as her M.P.A. in Public Policy Analysis from the New York University Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

As Director of the Mayor’s Office of Appointments, she will help recruit, retain, and elevate diverse, high-quality talent across city government.

“I am honored to serve as Director of Appointments for Mayor Mamdani,” said Mayor’s Office of Appointments Director Silkowski. “I look forward to continuing to build a strong, capable, and diverse leadership team that reflects the values of this administration and the people of New York.”

About Bitta Mostofi

Bitta Mostofi will serve as Special Advisor for Strategic Coordination and Operations to the First Deputy Mayor. Mostofi is a long-time champion for immigrant and human rights, most recently serving as a Fellow at Hyphen Partnerships as well as Cornell University. She previously served as Senior Advisor to the Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services under the Biden Administration, focused on improving service delivery for applicants, families, attorneys, and businesses. Mostofi also led the creation of new partnership models at the state and local level to increase efficiency and reduce barriers for individuals eligible for work authorization. Before the Biden Administration, Mostofi served as Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, helping implement New York City’s historic municipal ID program and a COVID-19 Emergency Relief Program to reach New Yorkers excluded from federal support, among other innovative policy and programmatic solutions. She provided representation to marginalized communities including crime victims, individuals fleeing violence, and Arab, Iranian, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Muslim clients facing discrimination. She received her B.A. from DePaul University and her J.D. from the DePaul University College of Law.

As Special Advisor for Strategic Coordination and Operations, Mostofi will work to ensure that the city and its agencies are focused on effective and efficient delivery of services. She will also help advance a whole of government response that is prepared and able to withstand any national shifts to protect the lives of all New Yorkers.

“I am deeply honored to join the Mamdani Administration, and I’m inspired by its agenda to ensure that the City defends, supports, and works for all of its residents,” said Special Advisor Mostofi. “As a longtime public servant, advocating for justice and fighting for all communities, I have had the privilege of seeing the remarkable way that government can work for everyone when there is a commitment and vision to ensure that all communities have the same opportunities to thrive and flourish. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this critical and meaningful work."

About Maya Handa

Maya Handa will serve as World Cup Czar — a first-of-its-kind government position to bring together city agencies, mayoral offices, and private sector partners — as New York City prepares for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. Handa brings deep experience across program implementation, international development, partnerships, and New York City and state politics. She previously served as Campaign Manager for Mayor Mamdani’s historic general election campaign as well as a Political Advisor on the Mamdani Transition Team. As Campaign Manager for Zellnor for NYC, National Candidate Pipeline Director for Run for Something, PAC Director for Way to Win, Deputy Elections Director for the Working Families Party, and other roles, Handa helped launch and lead long-term strategic campaigns. Additionally, she worked as a Management Consulting Analyst at Accenture on the Smart Cities team and graduated from the University of Chicago with a B.A. in Public Policy Analysis.

A lifelong soccer player and fan, Handa will use this innovative role to oversee the Mamdani Administration’s inter-agency work to host the FIFA 2026 World Cup and ensure the historic event benefits the City’s residents and economy.

“I’m honored to serve as Mayor Mamdani’s World Cup Czar and ensure that we can showcase and celebrate what makes New York City great,” said Maya Handa. “The World Cup is a tremendous opportunity to uplift our small businesses, boost our economy, and bring New Yorkers together to enjoy the beautiful game.”

About Renee Campion

Renee Campion will continue to serve as Commissioner of the Office of Labor Relations (OLR). Commissioner Campion has worked at OLR for over two decades, previously serving as First Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, and Associate Commissioner. Prior to her time at OLR, Commissioner Campion was Director of Contract Administration for Doctors Council SEIU, where she negotiated union contracts on behalf of 3,300 medical doctors and dentists employed in the public and private sector. During her time with Doctors Council, she served both as the union’s negotiator and Chief of Staff. Campion was also a member of the Board of Directors for the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health. She holds a B.A in American Government from Clark University.

As the head of OLR, Commissioner Campion will continue to manage the negotiation, implementation, and enforcement of all labor contracts within the city’s 150 collective bargaining units, representing 360,000 employees. Along with her work overseeing the city’s health insurance plan and NYC Employee Assistance Program, Commissioner Campion will continue to ensure that the city’s public servants receive the wages and benefits they deserve.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to continue serving the city and its employees,” said Labor Commissioner Campion. “I want to thank Mayor Mamdani for reappointing me as Labor Commissioner. I am excited to work on behalf of this Administration and with our city unions on issues that are vital to the workforce and city residents.”

About Kim L. Yu

Kim L. Yu will continue to serve as Director of the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services (MOCS) and the city’s Chief Procurement Officer. Director Yu was previously appointed to the role in April 2025 following her service as First Deputy Commissioner where she led strategic initiatives to modernize procurement and enhance service delivery at MOCS. Previously, Director Yu held key leadership roles at the New York City Office of the Comptroller, serving as Bureau Chief and Legal Counsel in the Bureau of Contract Administration. In that role, she oversaw critical aspects of the city’s contracting oversight and advanced initiatives to enhance accountability and transparency. She also served as assistant general counsel at the New York City Department of Transportation. Yu began her career as a legal fellow and law clerk with the Superior Courts of Massachusetts and New Jersey. She holds a J.D. from New England School of Law and a B.A. from St. John’s University.

In her role, Director Yu will continue to ensure that the city’s contracts are awarded fairly, transparently, and efficiently and that all New Yorkers receive the vital services they deserve.

“I am deeply honored to join Mayor Mamdani’s administration and to serve as New York City’s Director of the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services and City Chief Procurement Officer,” said MOCS Director Yu. “City contracting is the engine behind all the good work that agencies do each day and enables us to improve lives and deliver real results for New Yorkers. As a dedicated public servant, I will put New Yorkers first by strengthening the systems and processes that make childcare more affordable, increase access to legal services, improve critical infrastructure, and so much more. In this role, I look forward to leading with transparency and accountability to make it easier to do business with the City and to ensure city contracting empowers the bold vision of this administration.”

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