New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is preparing to unveil a Business Advisory Council that includes prominent founders and seasoned finance executives, city officials and media reports said Monday. The group, expected to be announced within weeks, will provide business leaders a direct channel to influence the city’s economic development strategy.
Mix of founders and finance leaders
According to reporting consolidated by multiple outlets, the council will include yogurt maker and social entrepreneur Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and investor Kevin Ryan, and three finance figures: former UBS Americas CEO Robert Wolf, ex-Lazard banker Antonio Weiss and José Tavárez, president of Bank of America New York City.
The administration has been meeting with corporate executives and founders since December as it assembles the advisory group. City officials framed the council as an opportunity for business leaders to weigh in on policy and economic planning, offering a formal mechanism for engagement between City Hall and the private sector.
Pushback from some business leaders
The outreach has not been universally embraced. Steven Fulop, president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, told reporters he has spoken with several top business figures who declined invitations to participate, pointing to dissatisfaction with the mayor’s outreach approach to the corporate community.
“I have spoken with a number of major business leaders who declined the invitation,”
Robert Wolf told DealBook he is weighing whether to join and urged business leaders to engage constructively across political lines. Several invitees, including Ulukaya, Ryan, Weiss, and Tavárez, did not respond to requests for comment reported by the press.
Potential influence on city economic policy
The composition of the council signals a blend of entrepreneurship and finance experience that could shape discussions around economic development, job growth and public-private partnerships. Founders such as Ulukaya and Ryan bring a perspective focused on startups, operations and innovation, while the finance executives offer deep experience with capital markets, corporate finance and institutional relationships in New York.
City Hall officials said they expect the council to begin work soon after the announcement, offering advice on initiatives that could affect the city’s business climate, investments and workforce planning. The precise remit, frequency of meetings and deliverables for the council have not been publicly detailed.
Who’s reported to be invited
| Person | Role/Background |
|---|---|
| Hamdi Ulukaya | Founder and CEO, Chobani |
| Kevin Ryan | Founder, AlleyCorp |
| Robert Wolf | Founder, 32 Advisors; former UBS Americas CEO |
| Antonio Weiss | Former Lazard banker |
| José Tavárez | President, Bank of America New York City |
Observers say the council’s membership will shape how much sway the private sector has in crafting practical responses to long-standing urban challenges, from commercial real estate trends to workforce training and small-business support.
- Timing: City Hall expects to announce the council within weeks.
- Purpose: To provide business input on the city’s economic development strategy.
- Reception: Some prominent business leaders reportedly declined invitations, reflecting tension between corporate leaders and the mayor’s office.
The council arrives as Mamdani’s administration seeks to engage the private sector amid competing expectations from business groups and civic leaders. How many invitees accept, and how the council’s recommendations are integrated into policy, will determine whether the body becomes a central advisory force or a symbolic bridge to the city’s corporate community.
