Stringer Appoints Eight; Kostik to Remain

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Scott Stringer, who will take over as New York City comptroller on Jan. 1, announced eight members of his leadership team.

"I am confident that each of them will make an extraordinary contribution to the comptroller's office and the city's financial well-being," said Stringer, the outgoing Manhattan borough president who was elected comptroller in November.

The appointees include Carol Kostik, who will remain as deputy comptroller for public finance. She directs city debt policy and issuance on behalf of the comptroller and oversees a $100 billion portfolio of outstanding city bonds and swaps.

Since her initial appointment in 2006, Kostik has managed the issuance of more than $90 billion of debt to fund capital projects and to refinance high interest rate bonds for budget savings. She has led comptroller's office municipal market initiatives that brought greater competition to city bond sales, enhanced the diversity of the city's finance teams, and built an investor information website.

Stringer praised Kostik for helping the city's debt program weather the severe market stresses of 2008 and then capitalizing on new financial instruments and low interest rates.

Other appointments include Alaina Gilligo as first deputy comptroller, Kathryn Diaz as general counsel, Lisa Flores, deputy for contracts and procurement; Camille Joseph, deputy for public affairs; Michele Mark Levine, deputy for accountancy; Sascha Owen, chief of staff; and David Saltonstall, policy director.

Gilligo served as chief of staff for Stringer during his tenure as Manhattan borough president and has been the executive director of his transition.

She supervised land-use policy in Manhattan, directed budget overhaul initiatives and was Stringer's representative on the New York City Economic Development Corp. She also oversaw the creation and release of more than 50 reports on waste, inefficiencies and dysfunction in many city government areas.

Under the city charter, the mayor and comptroller share the responsibility for issuing bonds and notes backed by the city's general obligation, as well as debt of the New York City Transitional Finance Authority and New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority, among other credits.

The comptroller's office also manages the city's five public pension funds, whose combined value is estimated at $147 billion.

Moody's Investors Service rates the city's general obligation bonds Aa2, while Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor's assign AA ratings.

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New York
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