Heard Around Town

Former Hochul appointee joins Frank Carone’s Oaktree

Daniel Tietz, who left his post as commissioner of the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, now works for the consulting firm started by New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ former chief of staff.

Daniel Tietz

Daniel Tietz State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

Daniel Tietz, who stepped down as commissioner of the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance earlier this week, has joined Oaktree Solutions, the global consulting firm launched by Frank Carone, the former chief of staff and longtime friend of Mayor Eric Adams. Tietz left the Hochul administration to serve as Oaktree’s chief operating officer and managing director for policy. In the policy role, Tietz will “run a practice that builds on his extensive achievements supporting and serving those who have been systematically excluded, working with clients seeking to make a positive change,” according to a press release shared exclusively with City & State.

“I am inspired by Frank Carone and his team’s vision and execution to build a firm that simply rolls up its sleeves and gets things done for clients,” Tietz said in the release. “The worlds of business, and government, and nonprofits – and the places where the three intersect – have never been more complicated, and there is a tremendous need for advisors who can provide clarity and value.”

Tietz, a lawyer and a nurse, cited “personal reasons” for his departure from the Hochul administration, effective July 25. He had been in the position for a little over a year-and-a-half. Among his accomplishments were the distribution of billions of dollars in pandemic relief to New Yorkers and the investment of tens of millions in capital funding to construct supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals and their families, according to his farewell statement

Before landing in the Hochul administration, Tietz held positions in both the nonprofit and government sectors, including serving as interim CEO of Bronx Parent Housing Network, an emergency shelter and social services provider, and as head of Bailey House, an HIV/AIDS support services provider. 

He also was chief special services officer for New York City’s Department of Social Services/Human Resources Administration under Mayor Bill de Blasio. 

Tietz is just the latest high-profile hire for Carone, who left the Adams administration right after the start of the new year to set up Oaktree. In May, former Rep. Max Rose joined the firm as managing director for federal and international affairs. Gary Jenkins, who was commissioner of the city Department of Social Services within the Adams administration, left in March to do similar work as a managing director at Oaktree.