By Jill Colvin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
CITY HALL — Mathew Wambua has been appointed commissioner of the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
Wambua, the current executive vice president for real estate and external relations at the Housing Development Corporation, has been with the administration since 2002, and formerly served as the vice chairperson of NYCHDC's Board of Directors, according to the agency's website.
From 2004 to 2008, he served as senior policy advisor for the deputy mayor for Economic Development. He also held positions with the New York City Economic Development Corporation and General Electric Capital Commercial Real Estate.
Wambua replaces Rafael Cestero, who announced he was stepping down in January after less than two years in office to join the private sector.
Cestero was brought in to replace Shaun Donovan, who left to join the Obama administration as the secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
