Comptroller Lander Announces Leadership Team Appointments
(NEW YORK, NY) – Comptroller Brad Lander announced Monday a series of appointments to lead the bureaus of the Comptroller’s office. The leadership team includes a diverse mix of returning and new Deputy and Assistant Comptrollers, all of whom bring deep expertise in city government and in their respective fields.
These leaders will be responsible for the core duties of the Comptroller’s office, including auditing the City’s agencies and books, serving as fiduciary to the City’s pension funds, analyzing the City’s budget, settling claims, underwriting bonds, protecting workers, and publishing policy research and proposals.
Today’s appointments include:
Ricky M. Da Costa, Deputy Comptroller for Public Affairs
Amedeo D’Angelo, Deputy Comptroller for Administration
Naomi Dann, Director of Communications
Wendy Garcia, Chief Diversity Officer
Michael Haddad, Interim Chief Investment Officer and Deputy Comptroller for Asset Management
Charlette Hamamgian, Deputy Comptroller for Contracts and Procurement
Marjorie Henning, Deputy Comptroller for Public Finance
Alison Hirsh, Assistant Comptroller for Pensions and Senior Adviser
Annie Levers, Assistant Comptroller for Policy
Jacqueline Thompson, Deputy Comptroller for Accountancy
These appointments join a previously announced Executive Team consisting of Executive Deputy for Management and Operations Sandra Abeles, Executive Deputy for Budget and Finance Francesco Brindisi, General Counsel Justina Rivera, and Chief of Staff Rachel Goodman.
“This team brings a wide range of experience in and outside public service, a deep commitment to making government work better, and a strong investment building a more just and equal city,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “I’m thrilled to work with this first-rate team, and I know they will serve New Yorkers and our city well.”
Deputy Comptroller for Public Affairs Ricky Da Costa oversees the bureau that is the primary liaison between the Comptroller’s office and the public, mayoral agencies, and federal, state and local authorities. Prior to joining the Comptroller’s Office, Mr. Da Costa served as political director on Mr. Lander’s campaign, as Assistant Vice President for Government & Community Relations at the New York City Economic Development Corporation, and worked in a number of roles across the Mayor’s Office.
Deputy Comptroller for Administration Amedeo D’Angelo is responsible for management of the agency’s expense and capital budgets, human resources, labor relations, procurement services, information systems, space management, facilities, and other auxiliary services. Mr. D’Angelo served in this and other roles under previous Comptrollers and has focused on establishing policies and processes that result in sound budget management and responsive employee services.
Director of Communications Naomi Dann leads the work of sharing information to increase transparency and trust in local government. Ms. Dann previously served as Communications Director for then Council Member Brad Lander and as Media Strategist at the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Chief Diversity Officer Wendy Garcia is responsible for increasing contracting opportunities for Women-and Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) and managing the Comptroller Office’s internal supplier diversity initiative, as well as other diversity related projects across all bureaus of the agency. Previously, Ms. Garcia served in this and other roles under Comptroller Stringer, and as Director of Community Outreach and Partnerships at the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD).
Interim Chief Investment Officer Michael Haddad leads the Bureau of Asset Management, responsible for investing the pension dollars of public sector workers. Previously, Mr. Haddad served as Deputy Chief Investment Officer, overseeing all asset classes as well as Asset Allocation. Prior to joining the NYC Comptroller’s office in 2016, Mr. Haddad worked in financial markets for three decades, including Morgan Stanley, as a US Treasury trader and Head of Canadian Fixed Income, Caxton Associates, as Senior Managing Director, and Soros Fund Management, as Senior Portfolio Manager.
Deputy Comptroller for Contracts and Procurement Charlette Hamamgian oversees the review of all contracts, contract amendments, leases and concessions between City agencies and vendors to determine whether the agreements should be registered. Ms. Hamamgian previously served as the Senior Executive Director for Contracts and Purchasing for the New York City Department of Education (“DOE”), and as Agency Chief Contracting Officer at the NYC Department of Design and Construction and the Department of Parks & Recreation.
Deputy Comptroller for Public Finance Marjorie Henning manages City debt issuance and related policy and administration on behalf the Comptroller. Ms. Henning is a three-decade veteran of the municipal market and served under Comptroller Stringer. Prior to joining the Comptroller’s Office, she spent five years at Citigroup as a Director in the Municipal Securities Division where she covered Northeast issuers.
Assistant Comptroller for Pensions and Senior Advisor Alison Hirsh serves as the Comptroller’s representative to NYC’s five pension funds and leads the Comptroller’s office’s labor policy initiatives. Prior to joining the Comptroller’s Office, she served as Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives for Mayor Bill de Blasio and Senior Advisor to Maya Wiley’s campaign for Mayor. Before that, Ms. Hirsh spent 12 years at 32BJ SEIU, most recently as Vice President and Political Director.
Assistant Comptroller for Policy Annie Levers is responsible for the development of the Comptroller’s public policy agenda. Prior to joining the New York City Comptroller’s office, Annie served as Director of Policy and Budget to Council Member Lander and later as Assistant Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives at the New York City Council.
Deputy Comptroller for Accountancy Jacqueline Thompson is responsible for overseeing all of the accounting and financial reporting functions of the Bureau of Accountancy. Previously Ms. Thompson held several other leadership positions in the Bureau of Accountancy including Division Chief, Deputy Bureau Chief, and then Bureau Chief. Ms. Thompson also served in the Comptroller’s Audit Bureau as a Staff Auditor and then Audit Supervisor.
Read more about Comptroller Lander’s leadership team at: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/about/leadership-team/
Additional leadership appointments will be made in the coming weeks.
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