Mayor Mamdani Launches Business Advisory Council, Bringing New York's Business Leaders to the Table

NEW YORK – Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the formation of the Business Advisory Council, a new body of 15 business leaders who will meet quarterly with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su to help shape the city’s next phase of economic growth and innovation.  

The council will advise City Hall on the industries driving New York’s economy — including finance, technology, real estate, sports, entertainment, retail and health care — as well as the infrastructure, talent pipeline and regulatory environment those industries need to grow here rather than elsewhere. Members will help shape a more deliberate approach to strengthening the sectors where New York can lead nationally and globally, from biotech and finance to media and entertainment.  

“The doors of City Hall are always open to New York’s business leaders, and I look forward to welcoming their experience and strategic guidance as we build a stronger, more dynamic economy,” said Mayor Mamdani. “This council brings together the people building the next generation of New York’s economy — in finance, tech, life sciences, and beyond — to help us double down on what makes this city the best place on Earth to start a company, grow a business, and build a career. We want the most ambitious people in the world to come here, stay here, and build here.”  

“We look forward to working with the leaders who make the hiring and investment decisions that will define New York’s economy for the next decade,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. “We’re focused on strengthening the sectors where New York has a real competitive edge — and on making sure the talent this city produces has every reason to build their future here instead of somewhere else.”  

City Hall announced the following inaugural members of the council:  

·       Brandon Blackwood, CEO of Brandon Blackwood New York 

·       Priscilla Sims Brown, President and CEO of Amalgamated Bank 

·       Rafael E. Cestero, CEO of the Community Preservation Corporation   

·       Keia Clarke, CEO of the New York Liberty   

·       Dr. John D’Angelo, President and CEO of Northwell Health   

·       Kruti Patel Goyal, CEO of Etsy   

·       Tony James, Chairman of Jefferson River Capital  

·       Scott Rechler, Chairman and CEO of RXR   

·       Kevin Ryan, Founder and CEO of AlleyCorp   

·       Marcus Samuelsson, Award-winning chef and restaurateur    

·       Doug Steiner, Chairman of Steiner Studios   

·       Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder and CEO of Chobani   

·       Pat Wang, President and CEO of Healthfirst   

·       Antonio Weiss, Partner at SSW and former Treasury official  

·       Robert Wolf, CEO of 32 Advisors and former Chairman and CEO of UBS Americas  

The Mayor is announcing this council at a near-record high for total jobs in New York City, with 4,852,400 jobs as of July 2026. With nearly 6,000 private sector jobs added in the first half of this year, New York’s year-over-year job growth is more than double the national growth rate. The unemployment rate has improved for five consecutive months, falling to 5.0% in July, while the labor force participation rate is at a near-record high.  

Under Mayor Mamdani, the city has seen some of the strongest office space leasing numbers in recent history, with nearly 50M square feet of office space leased over the past four quarters. New York City-based companies raised $21.2B in venture capital funding to date, 102% higher than the same period last year.  

“Building a business in New York has taught me that this city’s greatest resource has always been its people,” said Brandon Blackwood, CEO of Brandon Blackwood New York. “Their ambition, creativity and willingness to take a chance on an idea. I’m honored to join the Business Advisory Council and bring the perspective of an entrepreneur who built something here from the ground up. I look forward to working with Mayor Mamdani and my fellow council members to make sure New York continues to be a city where bold ideas can become lasting businesses, and where opportunity is accessible to the people who will shape what comes next.”

“Amalgamated Bank has called New York City home for more than 100 years, and we’ve always believed that progress happens when business leaders sit down together in good faith,” said Priscilla Sims Brown, President and CEO of Amalgamated Bank. “I’m honored to join this group and continue that tradition of constructive dialogue in service of the city we love.”

“I thank Mayor Mamdani and Deputy Mayor Su for the honor of serving on the Business Advisory Council alongside an exceptional group of leaders representing the innovation, entrepreneurship, and diversity that drive New York City's success. The broad expertise represented on this council creates a unique opportunity to develop solutions that strengthen our economy and improve the lives of New Yorkers across the five boroughs,” said Rafael E. Cestero, CEO of The Community Preservation Corporation. “I appreciate this administration’s recognition that creating and preserving affordable housing is an investment in New York’s long-term economic growth, competitiveness, and quality of life. For more than five decades, CPC has partnered with the City to expand housing opportunity and strengthen neighborhoods. I look forward to continuing our work together to address our affordability challenges and ensure New York remains a city of growth and economic opportunity for all.”   

“New York has always been a city where ambition, innovation, and opportunity come together, and I’m honored to join the Mayor’s Business Advisory Council alongside such an accomplished group of leaders,” said Keia Clarke, Chief Executive Officer, New York Liberty. “Sports and entertainment have the power to drive economic growth, strengthen communities, and inspire the next generation of talent. I look forward to working with Mayor Mamdani and my fellow council members to help ensure New York remains the best place in the world to live, work, and build the future.”    

“Health care is one of New York City’s largest employers and most vital industries, and I'm proud to join Mayor Mamdani’s Business Advisory Council to help ensure it remains a driver of innovation, job creation, and economic growth,” said Dr. John D’Angelo, President and CEO of Northwell Health. “Northwell is deeply committed to this city and its people — from the patients we serve to the thousands of New Yorkers we employ — and I look forward to working alongside this impressive group of leaders to make New York the best place in the world to invest, innovate, and build a healthier future.”  

“New York aspires to be a city of growth and opportunity for all its people,” said Tony James, Chairman of Jefferson River Capital. “I look forward to helping bring the perspective of business to Mayor Mamdani as he steers us toward that goal.”   

“Since Mayor Mamdani took office, I have found him and his team to be constructive and responsive partners,” said Scott Rechler, Chairman and CEO of RXR. “As a New Yorker who cares deeply about this city, I look forward to working with them and my fellow council members to provide candid input on what it takes to keep New York the greatest city in the world.”   

“Being invited to serve on the Mayor’s newly created Business Advisory Council is a tremendous honor,” said Marcus Samuelsson, Award-Winning Chef and Restaurateur. “As a chef and small business owner who has built my life and career in New York City, I know firsthand that what makes this city extraordinary is its people, its neighborhoods, and the small businesses that serve these communities. Restaurants are the beating heart of life in New York City. Not only are they the places where we gather and celebrate but they provide pathways to careers and livelihoods. I look forward to working with the Mayor and this council of inspiring entrepreneurs to help ensure that New York remains a place where small businesses can thrive for generations to come.”

“As someone who loves New York and leads a healthcare company serving nearly 2 million people across the five boroughs,” said Pat Wang, President and CEO of Healthfirst. “I am honored to contribute to the Mayor’s efforts to build a stronger and more vibrant economy for our City.”   

“It’s an honor to serve on this council with Mayor Mamdani and an extraordinary group of business leaders who care deeply about the future of this city,” said Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder & CEO, Chobani. “I look forward to working alongside them. New York is my home. It’s where Chobani started more than 20 years ago, and where we continue to invest and grow. I’ve always believed business can be a force for good. But the biggest challenges we face cannot be solved by business or government alone. They require us to come together, listen to one another and work with a shared sense of purpose. New York has always been a place where people come with a dream and believe they can build something better, a business, a career, a family, a life. We have a responsibility to make sure that promise remains true for the next generation. I’m excited to get to work to help ensure New York remains a place of possibility, where people can build a good life, businesses can grow, ideas can become reality, and anyone with a dream can see a future for themselves here.” 

“The Mayor has set forth an ambitious agenda to make New York City a thriving place for commerce as well as a more affordable place for everyone to live,” said Antonio Weiss, Partner at SSW and former Treasury official. “As a lifelong New Yorker, I look forward to supporting the Mayor in achieving these goals.”   

“I’m pleased Mayor Mamdani has formed the Business Advisory Council, recognizing the critical role the private sector will play in New York City’s continued success,” said Robert Wolf, CEO of 32 Advisors and former Chairman and CEO of UBS. “I look forward to working alongside leaders across financial services, technology, venture capital, real estate, health care and other industries that are vital to our economy. Together with the Mayor and his team, we have an opportunity to advance policies and partnerships that create good-paying jobs, raise wages, and make New York a more affordable place to live, work, and build a future.”   

Brandon Blackwood is the CEO of Brandon Blackwood New York, a contemporary accessories brand best known for its distinctive handbags that blend timeless silhouettes with a modern, fashion forward sensibility. Designed in New York, handbags sit at the core of the brand’s identity, serving as the foundation for its continued growth and global recognition. 

Since its inception in 2015, Brandon Blackwood New York has been featured in leading global fashion publications including Vogue, Vanity Fair, Forbes, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, InStyle, and WWD. Founder Brandon Blackwood is a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, was named to the Time 100 Next list for 2024, and serves on the Advisory Board of Fashion Trust U.S.  

Priscilla Sims Brown is President and CEO of Amalgamated Bank, the first publicly traded bank in the U.S. to be certified as a public benefit corporation. Since taking the helm in 2021, she has led the 100-year-old institution — founded to serve immigrant workers who couldn’t get banked elsewhere — through a period of expanded market presence, stronger financial performance, and continued growth in its lending and deposit franchises, all while deepening its commitment to socially responsible banking. Brown brings more than 30 years of financial services leadership, having held senior roles at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, AXA Financial, Sun Life Financial, and Lincoln Financial Group. She is widely recognized as a leading voice in banking, named a 2026 Crain’s New York Business Woman of Influence and one of American Banker’s Most Powerful Women in Banking. 

Rafael E. Cestero is the CEO of The Community Preservation Corporation (CPC), one of the country’s largest nonprofit multifamily and affordable housing finance companies, which has invested more than $16 billion to finance over 253,000 units of housing since its founding. Prior to joining CPC, he served as commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and has held senior leadership positions at L+M Development Partners, Enterprise Community Partners, and the Enterprise Foundation. A nationally recognized housing leader, Cestero brings more than three decades of public, private, and nonprofit sector experience advancing affordable housing and community development. He is also co-host of the podcast The Housing Problem.  

Keia Clarke, Chief Executive Officer of the New York Liberty, leads the franchise’s business operations and strategic planning. Under her transformational business leadership, the Liberty won the team’s first WNBA championship in franchise history in 2024, and New York City’s first professional basketball championship in more than 50 years. Entering her 16th season with the Liberty, Clarke’s vision, commitment, and intentionality are reflected across every aspect of the organization.  

Dr. John D'Angelo serves as President and CEO of Northwell Health, the largest nonprofit health system and private employer in New York State, comprising 28 hospitals and more than 1,000 outpatient facilities serving over three million patients across New York and Connecticut. An emergency medicine physician and Army Reserve veteran with over 25 years at Northwell, he led the system's frontline operational response to COVID-19 in one of the pandemic's hardest-hit epicenters, spearheaded sepsis initiatives that earned The Joint Commission's Eisenberg Award, and oversaw the opening of Manhattan's first freestanding emergency department, Lenox Health Greenwich Village. A Bronx native, Dr. D'Angelo brings a practitioner's instinct, a deep commitment to service, and a mission-driven approach to leading one of the nation's most complex health systems.  

Kruti Patel Goyal is Chief Executive Officer of Etsy, the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. During more than a decade at Etsy, she has held leadership roles spanning product, technology, strategy, international expansion, and marketplace trust. She also served as Chief Executive Officer of Depop, formerly a subsidiary of Etsy, where she helped establish it as the fastest-growing online apparel resale marketplace in the United States. Earlier in her career, Kruti worked in strategy, business development and growth equity at Viacom, Product (RED), Morgan Stanley, and General Atlantic Partners.  

Tony James is an internationally recognized investor and leader in global finance, having served for many years as President and COO of The Blackstone Group, the world’s largest alternative asset manager with approximately $1 trillion in assets under management. In that role, he oversaw businesses and operations in all major countries throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. He currently is Chairman of Jefferson River Capital, a private investment group. He also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Costco Wholesale Corp., the world's third largest retailer, Co-Chair of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Chairman of the Finance Committee of Mount Sinai Hospital System, and Chairman and co-founder of Ed Advancement, which provides critical infrastructure support to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, serving over two-thirds of all HBCU students. He was also appointed by President Joe Biden to be a member of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board. He served as commissioner of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and continues to serve on numerous other charitable, corporate, and public sector boards. He co-authored Rescuing Retirement, a book proposing a solution to America's looming retirement crisis, and has published numerous articles in The Wall Street Journal and other major publications. He graduated from Harvard College Magna Cum Laude as a John Harvard Scholar (top 5%) and from Harvard Business School as a Baker Scholar.  

Scott Rechler is the Chairman and CEO of RXR, a New York-based real estate and investment firm with more than 30 million square feet of commercial property and 9,600 multifamily units under management, and a longtime partner to the public sector on large-scale developments. He currently serves on the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and previously served as Vice Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, on the Board of the MTA, and as Chair of the Regional Plan Association. Scott is also a trustee and Vice Chair of the National September 11th Memorial and Museum.  

Kevin Ryan is one of the leading entrepreneurs and investors in New York. He is the founder and CEO of AlleyCorp, a New York based venture capital firm that incubates and invests in early-stage startups across healthcare, AI and software, consumer tech, deep tech, and more. Kevin is also the co-founder of several notable companies including MongoDB, Business Insider, Zola, Gilt Groupe, and Transcend Therapeutics. Earlier in his career, Kevin was the CEO of DoubleClick, which he helped grow from a 20-person startup to a publicly-traded company with over 1,500 employees.  

Marcus Samuelsson is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, and author behind restaurants including Red Rooster Harlem, Hav & Mar, Metropolis, VIBE BBQ and more. The youngest chef to receive a three-star New York Times review, he has won eight James Beard Awards, an Emmy, and cooked for the Obama Administration’s first state dinner. His books include Yes, Chef, The Rise and forthcoming Back to Green: Rediscovering a World of Delicious, Healthy Eating. He is the longtime Co-Chair of Culinary Careers Program, providing under-resourced high school students and adults with culinary arts education, job skills training, apprenticeships, and scholarships.  

Doug Steiner built his career in commercial real estate before becoming best known as the founder and chairman of Steiner Studios, the largest film and TV production facility on the East Coast, situated in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The complex has become a hub for major film and television productions and a significant driver of local media-sector economic activity. Steiner was also an influential voice in creating and shaping New York's film production tax credit, a program that helped the state compete with other production centers.  

Hamdi Ulukaya founded Chobani in Upstate New York in 2005 with a mission to make better food for more people. Under his leadership, Chobani has grown from a leading yogurt company into a next generation food and beverage company, including La Colombe and Daily Harvest. Ulukaya built Chobani on the belief that business is a force for good, creating opportunity through employment and strengthen the communities it calls home. He is also the founder of the Tent Partnership for Refugees, which mobilizes businesses to help refugees connect to jobs and rebuild their lives.  

Pat Wang is President and CEO of Healthfirst, a 2 million-member non-profit health insurer in New York City and surrounding counties. She has served as a Commissioner on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), advising Congress on Medicare payment policy, and on several health policy forums for New York State.  She is on the Boards of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (Chair) and the Chinese-American Planning Council.  

Antonio Weiss is a partner at SSW. He was a senior official at the US Treasury in the Obama Administration and, previously, head of investment banking at Lazard. He is a research fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School and a trustee of the Citizens Budget Commission.  

Robert Wolf is the Founder of 32 Advisors, which provides advisory services to C-suites and boards of directors on transaction support, geopolitical risk, and corporate governance. He also leads 32 Ventures, the firm’s investment platform, which partners with founders from seed through growth stage to provide both capital and strategic guidance. Prior to forming 32 Advisors, Robert spent 18 years at UBS, a global financial services firm, where he held several senior leadership roles, including Chairman and CEO of UBS Americas and President and Chief Operating Officer of the Investment Bank. He joined UBS in 1994 after spending a decade at Salomon Brothers. Currently, Robert serves on the Board of Directors of the Obama Foundation, the Alumni Board of the Wharton School, and the Leadership Council of New York City’s Robin Hood Foundation.