NEW YORK CITY—The Real Estate Board of New York has appointed John Banks—a veteran of government and community affairs—as its next president.
Banks will assume the role of president-elect effective March 2, 2015. He will replace Steven Spinola, who will step down after a transition period following nearly three decades of dedicated service to REBNY and the real estate community. Banks joins REBNY from Consolidated Edison, where he has served as VP of government relations for nearly 13 years.
“Throughout his extraordinary career in both the public and private sectors, John Banks has earned widespread acclaim for his wisdom, insight and trustworthiness, as well as his ability to build consensus,” says REBNY chairman Rob Speyer. “We needed someone exceptional to replace Steve Spinola, and we found him in John.”
Adds Spinola, “It has been my great privilege to serve REBNY and the real estate industry over the past 30 years. I look forward to some busy months ahead as we continue to pursue a pro-growth agenda for the city while ensuring the smoothest possible transition at REBNY. I couldn't be more optimistic about the future of this organization under John's guidance.”
As VP of government relations, a position he has held since February 2002, Banks has managed Con Edison's government and community affairs as they relate to policies proposed or enacted at all levels of government. In addition, he has managed a staff of 38 people working in Con Edison's active community relations and public affairs division.
“I look forward to working with the leadership of REBNY, its members, staff, the community and New York's elected officials,” says Banks. “It is an honor to follow in Steve's tremendous footsteps and build upon his accomplishments. I am grateful to Con Edison which encouraged and supported my team's efforts to engage with and be a positive force in the communities we serve.”
From 2000 through 2002, Banks served as chief of staff for the New York City Council, where he directed activities for the 51-member legislative body, managed the council's 360 person staff, negotiated with the mayor's office on all budget and legal matters, and set the Council's long and short-term policy agenda. Prior to that, he was deputy director of the Council's finance division and served in the Mayor's office of operations during the Koch administration.
Banks has an extensive history of active service to the community. He serves on the boards of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the New York Public Library, the New York Foundling Hospital and the Vincent J. Fontana Center for Child Protection, Pelham Picture House and Manhattan College. He was vice chairman of the New York City charter revision commission in 2010, and served on Mayor Bill de Blasio's transition committee in 2013.
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Rayna Katz
Rayna Katz is a seasoned business journalist whose extensive experience includes coverage of the lodging sector, travel and the culinary space. She was most recently content director for a business-to-business publisher, overseeing four publications. While at Meeting News, a travel trade publication, she received a Best Reporting award for a story on meeting cancellations in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
