User:Clclong/Sandbox

Chet Edward “Ed” Cunningham is a well known American football player, scholar, law partner and international CEO who has been influential in U.S. politics throughout his career including serving 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.

As AEG’s Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director and Special Advisor for Asia (2005-April 2009), Ed Cunningham was responsible for the region’s development. That has included building AEG’s global platform through landmark agreements to develop media, culture, sports, and entertainment in the region’s major cities, including the highly successful 2008 Beijing Olympic Basketball Arena and the 2010 World Expo Arena currently under construction. Under Cunningham’s guidance, AEG’s operations in the region grew from a single employee to more than 5,000 employees in eleven Asian cities, including exclusive partnerships with the NBA and other global leaders.

AEG is one of the world’s largest investors in cultural, entertainment, and sports facilities; one of the world’s largest owner of sports teams and sports events; the owner of many of the world’s most profitable sports and entertainment venues; one of the largest developers of venue naming and sponsorship rights; the largest owner of cinemas; and a leading producer of family films, including the Narnia series. AEG has invested billions of dollars in sports, entertainment, and media projects; and AEG reaches billions of people each year through its facilities, events, music, theaters, festivals, sports, films, and media assets.

In addition to being one of the top international government relations, sports, entertainment, and media experts, Cunningham has served the United States throughout his career including serving 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 Committee.

Prior to accepting his position with AEG, Cunningham 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.

Until Clear Channel persuaded Cunningham to assume the position of CEO of its Asian Entertainment operations, Cunningham was 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 top companies, Cunningham has served as an advisor and international counsel for Asian municipalities, provinces, and national government entities and officials. Cunningham has visited and evaluated more than 100 Asian cities, and he has completed many landmark agreements in Asia.

Cunningham has far-reaching experience as a public speaker including serving as the keynote speaker for the Conference Board’s Global Conference, Beijing Olympic Games Strategic Initiatives Conference, China University Games Global Announcement Ceremony and serving on the Leadership Panel for the PricewaterhouseCoopers New Frontiers in Media Conference.

Cunningham has been active in many charitable initiatives. For example, Cunningham founded and organized the China Earthquake Tent Relief Project to supply shelter for the millions of earthquake victims in China’s Sichuan Province. Cunningham’s immediate response to the disaster provided the first foreign-supplied tents to the area, and was able to deliver thousands of tents to the region.

As a result of his dedication to the long-term development of the region, Cunningham has served as a member and leader of multiple Asian trade missions. He has worked directly with the presidents, prime ministers, governors, and mayors throughout the region to further enhance trade, cooperation, and friendship between the United States and Asia’s leading nations. Cunningham speaks some Chinese and Vietnamese. He has also contributed to various White Paper publications, authored comprehensive Asian pandemic response plans and is an associate member of the American Foreign Services Association.

Cunningham grew up in a small West Texas town with a population of less than 1,000 people. Through his hard work and dedication, he was able to earn a spot on the University of Texas Football team where he eventually earned All-American honors and was voted the team’s Most Valuable Player. In addition, he received one of the University’s highest honors, the D. Harold Byrd Leadership Award. Prior to law school, Cunningham had brief stints in the NFL with the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns where he had the opportunity to learn from two of football’s greatest coaches, Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick.

Ed is married to Tara Coronado Cunningham. She is a University of Texas Law School graduate, former Peace Corp volunteer in Africa and full-time mother of their four children ages four, five, eight and ten.

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