New York mayor taps experienced officials across design, regulation and pensions in governance push
Our Bureau
New York, NY
Zohran Kwame Mamdani on Thursday announced a slate of high-level appointments and one major nomination across critical city agencies, signalling a continued effort to consolidate his administration’s governance agenda around accountability, equity and institutional reform.
The mayor named Erich Bilal as Executive Director of the Public Design Commission (PDC), Asim Rehman as Commissioner and Chair of the Business Integrity Commission (BIC), and Ahmer Qadeer as Director and Chief Pension Administrator of the Mayor’s Office of Pensions and Investments (MOPI). He also nominated Lisa Kersavage to serve as Chair of the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), a role subject to City Council confirmation.
“These leaders are proof that there is no one way to serve New Yorkers,” Mamdani said in a statement. “They have practiced law, spearheaded major public projects and fought tirelessly to make our city fairer and more affordable.”
The appointments come as the Mamdani administration approaches its early milestones in office, seeking to embed policy priorities through leadership changes across agencies that shape the city’s physical landscape, regulatory environment and financial stewardship.
At the centre of the announcement is the nomination of Lisa Kersavage to lead the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the largest municipal preservation agency in the United States. Kersavage, currently serving as the agency’s Executive Director, brings more than two decades of experience in historic preservation and urban planning.
Her tenure has focused on protecting architecturally and culturally significant sites while addressing longstanding institutional challenges, including a backlog of properties awaiting landmark designation. The LPC has, since its creation in 1965, designated more than 38,000 buildings and sites, including over 1,400 individual landmarks and 159 historic districts across New York City.
“It is an honor to join the Mamdani administration,” Kersavage said, adding that she aims to ensure preservation efforts are carried out “equitably and efficiently” while advancing broader city goals.
Her nomination reflects a balance the administration is attempting to strike between preservation and development, particularly as New York grapples with housing pressures and competing demands on land use.
In the realm of urban design and infrastructure, Erich Bilal will take charge of the Public Design Commission, an independent body responsible for reviewing design proposals for city-owned property. Bilal joins from the New York City Economic Development Corporation, where he worked on housing, infrastructure and public space projects across the five boroughs.
As Executive Director, Bilal will oversee the commission’s review processes and guide city agencies in delivering projects that are both functional and visually cohesive. His role is expected to be central to shaping public spaces at a time when the administration is emphasising accessibility, sustainability and community engagement.
“Design excellence is not a luxury; it is an essential tool for inspiration, equity, and restorative justice,” Bilal said, underscoring a philosophy that aligns with the administration’s broader messaging on inclusive urban development.
Regulatory enforcement and business oversight will fall under the leadership of Asim Rehman, who takes over as Commissioner and Chair of the Business Integrity Commission. Rehman most recently served as Commissioner and Chief Administrative Law Judge at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings and has held senior roles across multiple city agencies, including the Department of Investigation, Law Department and Department of Correction.
His mandate at the BIC includes improving safety and fairness in the trade waste industry, as well as combating corruption and fraud in regulated sectors. The appointment signals the administration’s continued focus on enforcement and integrity, particularly in industries that have historically faced scrutiny.
“By furthering BIC’s mission of combatting corruption, promoting fairness, advancing safety, and ensuring integrity… we can achieve the Mamdani administration’s goals of making the city safer,” Rehman said.
In the financial sphere, Ahmer Qadeer has been appointed to oversee one of the city’s most critical portfolios as Director and Chief Pension Administrator of the Mayor’s Office of Pensions and Investments. Qadeer will be responsible for managing the retirement security of nearly 800,000 active and retired city workers and overseeing more than $300 billion in assets.
Bringing a background in labor policy, economic justice and corporate governance, Qadeer’s role will involve balancing financial returns with long-term sustainability and ethical investment considerations. His appointment aligns with the administration’s emphasis on linking fiscal policy with broader social outcomes.
“I am honored by this appointment and looking forward to contributing to the stewardship of the City’s pensions on behalf of working New Yorkers,” Qadeer said.
Collectively, the appointments reflect an effort by the Mamdani administration to place experienced professionals in roles that intersect with some of the city’s most pressing challenges—housing and development, regulatory enforcement, and financial management.
They also reinforce a governing approach that blends technical expertise with a stated commitment to equity and public accountability. From preserving historic neighbourhoods to ensuring fair business practices and safeguarding pension assets, the selected officials will play a key role in translating policy priorities into operational outcomes.
