Global public affairs strategy firm Oaktree Solutions today announced that Kevin D. Kim, former Commissioner for the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS), has joined the firm as Managing Director of International Growth. In his new role, Kim will lead Oaktree’s efforts to support international businesses in establishing and expanding their footprint in New York, and globally.
Appointed by Mayor Eric Adams to serve as the SBS Commissioner, Kim spent more than two years running the city agency and supporting the approx. 200,000 small businesses across NYC. As Commissioner, Kim led innovative measures to cut red tape and streamline government processes for entrepreneurs, including in the city’s M/WBE program, and launched the $85 million Small Business Opportunity Fund, the largest public-private partnership loan fund ever for NYC small businesses, among other achievements. Kim also previously served as the first Asian American Commissioner of the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA).
I’m excited to join the Oaktree team, a group of accomplished leaders who get results,” said Kim. “Throughout my career, I have worked hard to create economic opportunities for individuals and businesses across New York City’s diverse communities. I look forward to combining my efforts with the entire Oaktree team and opening new doors for our clients, both here and abroad.
As a son of immigrant small business owners and a former founder and operator of several small businesses, Kim understands firsthand the challenges that businesses face and how to guide entrepreneurs through New York’s complex business and regulatory terrain. In his new role, Kim will combine his background as an attorney, entrepreneur, and public servant to create new public-private ventures that best meet the needs of businesses in New York City and around the globe.
Frank Carone, founder and Chairman of Oaktree Solutions, added, “As our firm has evolved into venture consulting, we are thrilled to welcome Commissioner Kim to the Oaktree family. His extensive experience and nuanced understanding of what it takes to fuel economic growth in New York City will be invaluable to our clients. We look forward to the expertise he brings to our team, which will further strengthen our commitment to creating opportunities and driving success.”
For more than a decade, Kim has been a recognized community leader serving on the boards of various non-profit organizations, including the CUNY Board of Trustees, President (Biden)'s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, American Red Cross (Queens), and the International Student Conference. He is also a certified community mediator through his participation in the Black Korean Mediation Project.
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