About
Edward Mermelstein
Private Sector Leadership
In the private sector, Edward is the Founder and CEO of One & Only Realty and One & Only Holdings, and co-founder of Rheem Bell & Mermelstein, a boutique law firm specializing in cross-border investment and complex real estate transactions. Over the past 20 years, he has guided clients across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East through capital deployment, regulatory navigation, political risk management, and large-scale project delivery.
Thought Leadership & Media
Edward is also a recognized thought leader, speaker and media commentator, appearing in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Financial Times, CNBC, Reuters, and Forbes. He speaks internationally on topics including foreign direct investment, political risk, smart cities, climate tech, reconstruction in Ukraine, and the role of cities in global diplomacy.
Philanthropy & Civic Engagement
Deeply engaged in philanthropy and civic leadership, Edward has held leadership roles with COJECO, ZAKA International Rescue and Recovery, the JDC, UJA, UNDC, and the NYU Board of Overseers, where he established the Mermelstein Family Scholarship. Guided by the principle of tikkun olam, repairing the world, he advances initiatives that strengthen communities, preserve culture, and respond to humanitarian crises.
Edward Mermelstein
is a leading authority in international affairs, investment strategy, and global diplomacy. For more than three decades, he has advised governments, family offices, corporations, sovereign funds, and individuals on foreign direct investment, political risk management, government relations, and real estate advisory.
Recognized for his ability to connect global capital with policy and strategy, he has built a reputation as a trusted voice in both international diplomacy and investment.
Over the course of his career, he has facilitated billions in foreign direct investment and structured complex cross-border transactions spanning North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Most recently, Edward was appointed Chairman of the Ukrainian Resilience & Opportunity Fund, a highly targeted, actively managed initiative created to accelerate Ukraine’s economic recovery. Unlike broad-based recovery efforts, the fund focuses on high-growth, high-conviction opportunities that are foundational to Ukraine’s future and strategically vital to its Western allies.
Ukraine represents the first chapter in Edward’s broader mission to apply this model across emerging markets worldwide, bridging capital and diplomacy to mobilize investment where it can deliver both immediate resilience and long-term stability.
Emerging Markets Leader
Edward Mermelstein is committed to directing capital into emerging markets where investment can deliver both resilience and long-term growth. These regions often stand at the crossroads of global security and economic opportunity, making them vital not only to local recovery but also to international partners.
Under his leadership, New York strengthened its role as a magnet for global business and talent. The city cultivated a supportive business environment that diversified its economy beyond finance, fueling growth in technology, artificial intelligence, life sciences, fintech, and climate innovation. Today, New York has more tech jobs than finance jobs, a milestone reflecting its transformation into the #1 destination for innovation, investment, and global opportunity.
Additionally, by working closely with the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC), the Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI), and other agencies, New York achieved global recognition as the capital of applied artificial intelligence.
Edward’s work has supported both early-stage ventures and Fortune 500 companies in expanding to New York, creating jobs, and fueling the city’s economic diversification.
Commissioner for International Affairs
From 2022 to 2025, Edward served as New York City’s Commissioner for International Affairs, where he directed the city’s relationships with the United Nations, the consular corps, and the international diplomatic community. In this capacity, he positioned New York as a global capital for diplomacy and investment, advancing subnational diplomacy as a practical tool for attracting foreign direct investment, fostering economic growth, and strengthening international cooperation.
During his tenure, Edward engaged with more than 190 UN missions, 116 consulates and 70 economic missions, elevating New York City’s role as the world’s most internationally connected city. He represented the City on the UN Development Corporation Board for the $500 million UN Plaza redevelopment, a project delivering 1,800 jobs and reaffirming NYC’s global influence.
Personal Journey
Edward’s personal journey informs his global perspective. A refugee from Ukraine who immigrated to the United States in 1976, Edward embodies the resilience and diversity of New York City, where immigrants form the foundation of civic and economic life.
In the late 1980s, Edward served in the U.S. Army and Reserves, where he was part of the Medical Corps as a laboratory tech and medic. His military service instilled a deep sense of discipline, respect, pride and commitment to service, qualities that continue to shape his professional and civic leadership today.
Fluent in English and Russian, he brings a multicultural perspective to every role he undertakes. He earned his B.A. from New York University and J.D. from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School. He lives in New York City with his wife, Rose, an eight-time Tony Award–winning Broadway producer, and their two sons.
