NEW YORK – Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced three appointments and one nomination to key City agencies and offices. Mayor Mamdani appointed 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 [PhD ’23] 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).
“These leaders are proof that there is no one way to serve New Yorkers. They have practiced law, spearheaded major public projects and fought tirelessly to make our city fairer and more affordable. Each brings a deep commitment to public service,” said Mayor Mamdani. “I am proud to welcome them into our administration, where they will help lead our city with the excellence, accountability and integrity New Yorkers deserve.”
Ahmer Qadeer will serve as Director and Chief Pension Administrator of the Mayor’s Office of Pensions and Investments. He brings experience in economic justice, labor policy and corporate governance, and worked with labor-affiliated pension and benefit funds.
Qadeer previously held leadership roles at the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and worked in research and policy focused on workers’ rights. He holds a Ph. D. in Planning and Public Policy where his research focused on regulation in housing markets.
As Director of the Mayor’s Office of Pensions and Investments, Qadeer will serve as the Mayor’s primary pension and deferred compensation plan trustee. In this role, Qadeer will work to ensure the retirement security of nearly 800,000 active and retired City workers, and to responsibly steward their $300+ billion in assets under management for the long term.
“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. I look forward to working with partners across the pension systems to ensure that the City’s investments continue to deliver strong, responsible returns and long-term value,” said Ahmer Qadeer, MOPI Director and Chief Pension Administrator.