Mamdani Taps Former FTC Chair Lina Khan to Lead NYC Economic Development Board

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a significant leadership shift at the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) on Wednesday, appointing former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan to lead the agency’s board. The administration also named Tony Shorris, a former first deputy mayor under Bill de Blasio, to serve as the EDC’s president.

The appointments, unveiled during a press conference at City Hall, arrive seven months into Mamdani’s term. The EDC oversees critical city assets and major development projects, including the Hunts Point food distribution center, the municipal ferry system, and large-scale redevelopment sites like the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island.

During the announcement, Mamdani described the pairing of Khan and Shorris as an "economic wonks version of the 1992 Olympic basketball dream team." The mayor noted that Khan, who previously chaired his mayoral transition team, was instrumental in developing an agenda focused on the needs of working-class New Yorkers.

Khan, known for her aggressive stance on antitrust enforcement during her time in the Biden administration, suggested that the EDC could serve as a vital instrument for both economic growth and affordability. "EDC has enormous capacity to make life materially better for New Yorkers, and to ensure that public resources are being used to build state capacity," she stated.

Political observers have closely monitored how the administration would handle the EDC, an agency that has historically faced criticism for prioritizing business interests over public benefit. By appointing a prominent progressive regulator alongside Shorris—a former McKinsey partner and seasoned government official—the mayor appears to be balancing his democratic socialist platform with traditional administrative experience.

While the EDC president manages day-to-day operations, the board plays a central role in guiding the agency’s strategic mission and approving major deals. The mayor holds the authority to appoint the majority of the board members, granting his administration significant influence over the city’s future development trajectory.