"John Zuccotti has an extraordinary background and long history working in our industry and in this city," says Resnick. "His distinguished career and the experience he brings will serve the board well."
"I'm deeply honored to have been asked to head the Real Estate Board. This industry has played a pivotal role in making New York City the world capital and world class city that it is," Zuccotti says. "I look forward to working with all the members of the board."
Prior to joining Brookfield Financial Properties, Zuccotti served as president and CEO of Olympia & York Companies (USA) from January 1990. From 1986 to 1990, he was a partner in the law firm of Brown & Wood, and from 1978 to 1986 he was a partner in the law firm of Tufo & Zuccotti.
Zuccotti spent a significant period of his career in government, serving as the first deputy mayor of the City of New York under Mayor Abraham D. Beame from 1975 through 1977. He began his tenure in municipal government under Mayor John V. Lindsay who appointed him to the New York City Planning Commission in 1971. Lindsay made him the Chairman of the Commission in 1973, a position he held until 1975. Zuccotti also served as chairman of Mayor Edward I. Koch's Advisory Committee on Police Management and Personnel Policy, as a member of Koch's Advisory Task Force on the Homeless, and as chairman of Governor Hugh L. Carey's Task Force on the World Trade Center.
Prior to his work with the New York City government, Zuccotti spent time in Washington as assistant to Robert C. Wood, secretary of Housing and Urban Development, as special counsel to the Housing Subcommittee of the House Banking and Currency Committee and as secretary and counsel to the National Corporation for Housing Partnerships. He was also a member of HUD's Task Force on Improving Operations of Federal Housing Programs and a consultant to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Zuccotti also served as assistant to Senator Jacob K. Javits.
During his career, Zuccotti specialized in planning, housing, real estate and municipal law. He has played a role in the development of major residential and commercial projects in the New York metropolitan area. He has also had the opportunity to use his expertise to help develop planned communities in such diverse places as Reston, VA and a Navajo reservation in Shiprock, NM. While working for the Joint Center for Urban Studies of MIT and Harvard University, he served on a team planning a new town in Venezuela. He was appointed to the faculty of both Yale and Columbia law schools as an adjunct professor. Zuccotti has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners since 1974 and has been an honorary member of The American Institute of Architects since 1975.
Zuccotti has also been involved in a range of labor relations activities and served for nine years as impartial arbitrator between the MTA of New York and locals of the Transport Workers Union and Amalgamated Transit Union. Zuccotti has been a director or trustee of many boards, both corporate and not-for-profit.
The native New Yorker graduated from Princeton University in 1959 and received his law degree from Yale University Law School in 1963. He lives with his wife, Susan, in Brooklyn. They have three children.
"John is well known as a business and civic leader and is one of the champions of the lower Manhattan renewal effort," adds Steven Spinola, president of REBNY. "We are looking forward to the direction and guidance he can provide for the real estate community. He has a diverse tapestry of experience that will serve as a valuable resource."
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