Mayor Eric Adams has put his stamp on the Mayor's Office of Contract Services with the appointment of Kim L. Yu as the new director, as well as the city's chief procurement officer, in an effort to continue fostering a government that's accountable, efficient, and transparent for the people of New York City, this decision comes hot off the tails of outgoing Director Lisa Flores' tenure. According to a recent announcement made by the mayor's office, Kim Yu will spearhead the organization that advises and supports city agencies in their day-to-day procurement activities.
Backing up Yu is Yexenia Markland, stepping up as the first deputy director and John K. Katsorhis, who will be bringing his expertise from the Office of the New York City Comptroller to his new role as deputy chief procurement officer, each will be handling their respective new responsibilities which cover aiding the city spend taxpayer dollars more efficiently and also Yexenia Markland's promotion recognises her work as chief change officer where she pushed for transformative initiatives across city agencies. In a statement, Mayor Adams emphasized the importance of the MOCS in fighting waste and fraud, "The Mayor's Office of Contract Services does critical work rooting out waste and fraud and ensuring government works best for New Yorkers," he said, further adding, "This team, led by Director Kim Yu, has the experience, skill, and commitment to ensure taxpayer dollars continue to be spent efficiently." He also took the opportunity to acknowledge Lisa Flores for her service.
City Hall Chief Counsel Allison Stoddart commented on the intended impact of the new appointments, "Our goal is to get payments out to our vendors as quickly as possible, and Kim Yu has the experience and vision to hit the ground running today while developing a sustainable contracting system for the city's future," signaling high expectations for incoming Director Yu and the MOCS team. Yu in response expressed her honor at the appointment, "I'm deeply honored to be appointed to lead the Mayor's Office of Contract Services on behalf of the City of New York, and I want to thank Mayor Adams for his trust and the opportunity to step into this role," telling the mayor's office. She plans to focus on empowering government and public service through collaboration, innovation, and excellence.
As for the newly appointed first deputy director, Yexenia Markland shared her enthusiasm in an announcement, "I'm truly grateful to Mayor Adams and the administration for this opportunity to serve as first deputy director at MOCS," Markland will bring a wealth of experience in organizational change and community development from her previous roles, including assistant commissioner at the Department of Youth and Community Development. John K. Katsorhis also expressed his readiness to join the MOCS team stating, "It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the City of New York for the past 27 years, during which I’ve had the opportunity to partner and collaborate with many dedicated and talented individuals," also Katsorhis has had an extensive career within New York City's procurement field, indicative of a deep familiarity with the city's contracting systems and requirements hoped to play a crucial role in the MOCS mission under Yu's leadership. Both of these appointments hint at the continued commitment to refining the mechanisms of city management and delivery to New York's residents.
