New York

Mayor de Blasio Announces David Hansell as New Head of Embattled Administration for Children's Services

Mayor de Blasio has announced David Hansell as the new head of the embattled Administration for Children's Services, which has been plagued by a series of high-profile abuse cases over the last several months.

De Blasio made the official announcement Tuesday in Kips Bay, a day after NBC 4 New York first reported his plans. Hansell replaces former ACS commissioner Gladys Carrion, who resigned more than two months ago.

"Our mission to protect our children is work that never ends," the mayor tweeted. "No one is better suited than @ACSNYC's new Commissioner @DavidHansell1."

Hansell currently works as a management consultant at KPMG, advising government on social service policy.

He has also served in senior government posts appointed by President Obama, Governor Eliot Spitzer and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. 

De Blasio said Tuesday that Hansell's worldview was shaped during the AIDS crisis, when "he witnessed what happens when the government is callous to those in need." 

"David understands intimately that protecting the defenseless is as important now as it was 30 years ago," he said.

Several sources familiar with the mayor's decision say de Blasio chose Hansell because of his management experience. Other contenders for the job included Rafael Lopez, who also served in the Obama administration, but withdrew his name from the mayor's shortlist in recent weeks.

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