Exclusive | NYC power broker Kathryn Wylde eyes new gig with Saudi Arabias $1T sovereign wealth fund
New York City power broker Kathryn Wylde has held talks to join Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund as a lobbyist and consultant for the oil-rich Persian Gulf kingdom, The Post has learned.Two sources close to the situation said the well-connected 79-year-old is eyeing a post with Riyadh’s $1 trillion Public Investment Fund, and that discussions took place over the holiday period.The talks were held between Wylde and a representative for the Saudis, according to one of the sources.They are fluid and still in their early stages, both sources said.Wylde declined to comment when approached by The Post on Thursday.
A spokesperson for PIF did not respond to a request for comment.If sealed, the plum gig would mark a surprise pivot for the outgoing CEO of Partnership for New York City, who, after years of brokering behind-the-scenes deals between business moguls and city bigs, told The Post last year that she planned to retire.Sources familiar with the matter told The Post that Wylde had been “discussing the idea” with Big Apple CEOs in the run-up to the Christmas break.Wylde, who has Wall Street titans such as JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon and KKR founder Henry Kravis on speed dial, recently forged ties with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after he won the Nov.5 election.She even went on to secure an unpaid advisory role on his transition team as an economic adviser.
That’s despite the fact that Wylde opposed fresh taxes on the rich that the hard-left Hizzoner believes will help bankroll his democratic socialist agenda.“It’s part of her ‘Wylde’ plan,” one well-placed source said of the possible Saudi job.“Kathy is touting her proximity to business and the new mayor.”Two insiders close to the situation said that some of the financial bigwigs involved with Wylde’s lobby group had been left bemused by her overtures to the business-bashing Mamdani after his stunning victory.It is unclear what new projects for the Big Apple the Saudis — led by Cro...