New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Monday appointed a veteran city and state budget official to be his first deputy mayor, tapping a pair of seasoned hands to handle operations of City Hall as he prepares to carry out his ambitious agenda.

The appointment of Dean Fuleihan as top deputy gives Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, heavy institutional heft and offers insight into how his budding administration will pursue a policy slate often criticized as financially unrealistic.

Fuleihan, 74, will bring more than four decades of government experience to the job, including past posts as former Mayor Bill de Blasio's budget director and deputy mayor, as well as an extensive tenure in budget and policy roles in the state Legislature in Albany.

Mamdani also appointed Elle Bisgaard-Church, a top campaign adviser and his chief of staff in the state Assembly, to be his City Hall chief of staff.

At a press conference, Mamdani, who will be city's youngest mayor in generations when he takes office next year, said he will “create a new City Hall” but will need both experienced leaders and fresh faces to do so.

AP video by David Martin