OneNYC Announces Key Appointments and Strategic Focus Areas
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–OneNYC today announced the appointment of Geoffrey W. Smith, Founder and Managing Partner of Digitalis Ventures, and Irfan Verjee, CEO of Shomax Energy Corporation and Partner at Shomei Capital, to its Business Advisory Council. The organization also named Zia Khan, former Chief Innovation Officer at The Rockefeller Foundation, as its Executive Director. They join previously announced Business Advisory Council members Andrew Milgram, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Marblegate Asset Management, and Kevin Ryan, Founder of venture capital firm AlleyCorp.
These appointments mark a significant step forward in OneNYC’s mission to make living and doing business in New York affordable for all. The Business Advisory Council will play a central role in shaping and implementing this affordability agenda by creating a policy framework grounded in analytics and innovative business perspectives. The Council will also incubate, resource, and launch cross-sector partnerships to achieve specific objectives that bridge gaps between government, communities, and businesses, and advise and support the development of ongoing capabilities for implementing the affordability agenda, including improving government service delivery, rebuilding trust across sectors, and integrating new technologies.
“OneNYC is building the connective tissue between bold policy and practical implementation,” said Zia Khan, Executive Director of OneNYC. “I’m honored to join this effort and help catalyze the partnerships and capabilities needed to make affordability a reality for all New Yorkers.”
“I’m excited to contribute to OneNYC’s mission of making New York City a place where innovation and affordability go hand in hand,” said Geoffrey W. Smith. “This is a moment to bring together science, technology, and public-interest entrepreneurship to solve real problems for real people.”
“Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success,” said Irfan Verjee. “OneNYC is creating the kind of platform where business leaders can meaningfully engage in shaping the future of our city.”
“OneNYC is not just a committee—it’s a movement,” said Yasser Salem, Chair of OneNYC. “With Zia’s leadership and the strategic insight of Geoff and Irfan, we are accelerating our ability to deliver on Zohran Mamdani’s affordability agenda. These appointments reflect our commitment to inclusive, data-driven, and action-oriented change.”
“OneNYC is dedicated to tackling New York City’s toughest challenges, from the housing and affordability crises to navigating an era of uncertainty and shrinking federal support,” said Yasser Salem, Chair of OneNYC. “At a time when building trust and partnership between business and government has never been more critical, Zia’s leadership — together with the appointments of Geoff and Irfan to the Council — brings invaluable strategic insight. Their contributions will accelerate our ability to advance Zohran Mamdani’s affordability agenda while strengthening New York City’s long-term competitiveness.”
About OneNYC
OneNYC is an independent expenditure committee formed by a group of business leaders, policymakers and former government officials committed to supporting principled, effective leadership and robust, data-driven policies that make living and doing business in New York affordable for all. OneNYC is registered in New York as a political action committee with related 501c3 and 501c4 structures. Read more at: www.onenyc.com.
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