Ed Cunningham (executive)

Chet Edward "Ed" Cunningham is an American lawyer and CEO who ran for the Senate in Texas as a Democrat in 2002. He has served as a member of President Barack Obama's National Finance Committee, the Presidential Advisory Committee (Technology), the U.S. Foreign Affairs Budget Project Advisory Committee, the American Academy of Diplomacy (Co-Director of International Negotiations Program), and the Democratic National Committee National Advisory Board.

Early life and education
Cunningham grew up in a Fritch, Texas, a town with a population of fewer than 1,000 people and played football at Sanford-Fritch High School. He then played football for the University of Texas football team where he started out as a defensive tackle, but before his sophomore season, when he was expected to be a starter, he volunteered to switch to the offensive side. Undrafted due to a knee injury he suffered during his senior year, Cunningham had many offers and signed with the New York Giants of the NFL. He was waived at the end of training camp due to a foot injury. The next year he went to minicamp with the Cleveland Browns, but again did not make the roster.

Career
Cunningham attended Texas Tech University School of Law, and became a partner and Director for the Global Media, Sports and Entertainment Practice at the Coudert Brothers law firm. It was the first and, during Cunningham’s tenure, the largest international law firm in Asia (more than 1,000 attorneys). In addition to representing many of the world's largest or most notable companies, Cunningham has served as an adviser and international counsel for Asian municipalities, provinces, and national government entities and officials.

In 2001, he was running AllProTraining.com, an internet company that allowed users to ask sports teams' trainers how to exercise more efficiently.

Cunningham next served as the Asia CEO for Clear Channel Communications (Entertainment Division), a Fortune 500 Company. Cunningham worked with government leaders and companies to create China's earliest joint ventures in the politically sensitive cultural, sports, entertainment, and media industries.

As AEG's Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director and Special Advisor for Asia (2005-April 2009), Cunningham was responsible for the region's development. That included building AEG's global platform through agreements to develop media, culture, sports, and entertainment in the region's major cities, including the 2008 Beijing Olympic Basketball Arena and the 2010 World Expo Arena.

Cunningham founded and organized the China Earthquake Tent Relief Project to supply shelter for the earthquake victims in China's Sichuan Province, which provided the first foreign-supplied tents to the area.

Senate Run
In 2001, Cunningham announced he was running for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat then held by Phil Gramm, who was retiring. After raising more than $200,000 for his bid, far less than he aimed for, he suspended his campaign 6 months after it started and endorsed Ron Kirk. By the time he dropped out, people had already started voting in the primary, and Cunningham managed to garner 2.3% of the vote and come in 5th.

Relationships
Cunningham was formerly married to Tara Coronado, a lawyer and former Peace Corps volunteer, with whom he has four children. He has been married to Aimee Cunningham since 2014.