Mayor Adams Appoints Kim L. Yu as Director of Mayor's Office of Contract Services and City Chief Procurement Officer

April 24, 2025

Yexenia Markland to Serve as First Deputy Director
John K. Katsorhis to Serve as Deputy Chief Procurement Officer

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointment of Kim L. Yu as the next director of the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services (MOCS) and city chief procurement officer. Incoming Director Yu will work to continue delivering accountable, efficient, and transparent government to New Yorkers and will oversee the team that provides policy and operational advice, as well as technical assistance, to city agencies as they manage daily procurement activities. Mayor Adams also announced Yexenia Markland will be promoted to first deputy director, and John K. Katsorhis will join the Adams administration from the Office of the New York City Comptroller as deputy chief procurement officer.

“The Mayor’s Office of Contract Services does critical work rooting out waste and fraud and ensuring government works best for New Yorkers,” said Mayor Adams. “This team, led by Director Kim Yu, has the experience, skill, and commitment to ensure taxpayer dollars continue to be spent efficiently. Good government begins with accountability, efficiency, and transparency, and that’s exactly what our administration and the public servants we are appointing today are committed to. I also want to thank outgoing Director Lisa Flores for her years of service delivering a better-working government for New Yorkers.”

“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,” said City Hall Chief Counsel Allison Stoddart. “Kim and the team at MOCS are incredibly dedicated to building a procurement platform that serves all users in a thoughtful, transparent, and efficient manner.”

“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,” said MOCS Incoming Director Yu. “Together with the talented MOCS team, we will continue building a city agency that drives meaningful impact and delivers for all New Yorkers. My focus will be on empowering the essential work of government and public service through collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to excellence. I'm also profoundly grateful to my predecessor, Lisa Flores, for her leadership and dedication, which have laid a strong foundation for the work ahead.”

“I'm truly grateful to Mayor Adams and the administration for this opportunity to serve as first deputy director at MOCS,” said MOCS Incoming First Deputy Director Markland. “I'm excited and eager to partner with incoming Director Kim Yu and support our dedicated MOCS team as we continue building momentum to deliver much-needed changes to contracting systems and processes. Together, we'll work toward creating a more equitable procurement system that truly serves all New York City residents. I look forward to the important task of forging ahead with transforming how our city approaches contracting to benefit communities across the five boroughs.”

“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,” said MOCS Incoming Deputy Chief Procurement Officer Katsorhis. “I am excited to be joining the MOCS team as deputy chief procurement officer, and under Director Yu’s leadership, we will continue striving for the highest level of service and fostering strong partnerships with our many service providers — delivering the excellence New Yorkers deserve.”

About Kim L. Yu

Kim L. Yu is a seasoned public sector executive with a track record of driving operational excellence and reform across New York City government. She currently serves as first deputy director at MOCS, where she led strategic initiatives to modernize procurement and enhance service delivery across the city.

Previously, Yu held key leadership roles at the New York City Office of the Comptroller, serving as bureau chief and legal counsel in the Bureau of Contract Administration. In that role, she oversaw critical aspects of the city’s contracting oversight and advanced initiatives to enhance accountability and transparency. She also served as assistant general counsel at the New York City Department of Transportation.

Yu began her career as a legal fellow and law clerk with the Superior Courts of Massachusetts and New Jersey. She holds a J.D. from New England School of Law and a B.A. from St. John’s University. About Yexenia Markland Yexenia Markland currently serves as chief change officer at MOCS, where she spearheaded transformational initiatives across city agencies. Her expertise in organizational change management has empowered government entities, nonprofit providers, minority- and women-owned business enterprises, and institutions to navigate complex systems transformations while maintaining strategic alignment and operational continuity.

Prior to joining MOCS, Markland distinguished herself as assistant commissioner of planning, program integration, and evaluation at the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), where her leadership resulted in pioneering solutions that expanded community access to vital services and culminated in the successful implementation of DYCD's groundbreaking first online application system. Markland brings a wealth of community experience to her public service. She has been instrumental in strengthening capacity for numerous community-based organizations and entrepreneurs, helping them build robust business relationships, and enhancing their community engagement strategies.

Before entering civil service, Markland built a respected career as an educator, youth organizer, and passionate advocate for educational equity. Markland holds a B.A. in Operations Management from Baruch College, an M.S. in General and Special Education from Touro College, and an M.B.A. in Media Management and Communications from Metropolitan College of New York.

About John K. Katsorhis

John K. Katsorhis is a seasoned New York City procurement professional, committed to the timely delivery of goods and services while upholding the highest standards for New Yorkers. Most recently, Katsorhis served as the agency chief contracting officer (ACCO) at the Office of the New York City Comptroller, where he led efforts to modernize and streamline procurement and payment processes.

Throughout his career, Katsorhis has held key roles in several city agencies, including ACCO at the New York City Office of Technology and Innovation, deputy ACCO at the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services, and director of professional contracts at the New York City Department of Design and Construction — each position contributing to his broad expertise in public procurement.
Katsorhis began his public service in the Mayor’s Office of Operations, where he worked on special projects across various city agencies and contributed to the Mayor’s Management Report, tracking and reporting agency performance.
Katsorhis holds a B.A. in Government and Politics with a minor in Public Administration from St. John’s University.

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