Kathy Wylde
(Bloomberg) — New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has selected several corporate executives to join his transition team as the democratic socialist seeks to mollify concerns his policies might harm the city’s business community.
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Among those chosen to help in his move to City Hall are former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. partner Margaret Anadu, developer Jed Walentas and Kathy Wylde, head of the Partnership for New York City. Wylde and Anadu will serve on the Committee on Economic Development & Workforce Development, and Walentas will join the Committee on Housing, according to a statement from Mamdani’s transition team on Monday.
“These committees bring together more than 400 esteemed leaders from across New York City — with backgrounds spanning local and state government, nonprofits, labor, academia, business, and more — united in a commitment to ensuring that the Mamdani administration is staffed with top talent and ready on day one to deliver the Mayor-elect’s affordability agenda,” according to the statement.
Anadu, who is now a senior partner for real estate at Vistria Group, had previously been appointed by Mayor Eric Adams to chair the New York City Economic Development Corp.’s board in 2022, soon after she departed the bank. At New York-based Goldman, Anadu had an expansive role, including leading investing efforts in under-served communities and minority businesses.
Walentas, the Brooklyn developer behind the revamp of the Domino Sugar Refinery, had spoken with Mamdani before the election as part of a charm offensive by the candidate to reassure business leaders who were wary of the 34-year-old’s policies. The incoming mayor, who takes office on Jan. 1, ran on a pledge to freeze rents and provide free childcare and bus service, and promised to pay for his programs with a tax on corporations and the wealthy.
Before Mamdani was elected, Wylde organized conferences and helped broker meetings between the candidate and members of the partnership, a coalition of 350 of the city’s largest banks and media companies as well as investment, real estate and law firms. The group’s board of directors includes Albert Bourla, chief executive officer of Pfizer Inc., and Rob Speyer, CEO of Tishman Speyer.