Stephen A. Unger

Son of award-winning film producer, distributor and exhibitor Oliver A. Unger, Stephen Unger was born in New York City, and lived there until age 13 when he and his family, including older brother Anthony B. "Tony" Unger and three sisters, moved to Southern California, settling in Beverly Hills. Unger graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1963, from Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in 1967 and attended New York University’s Graduate Institute of Film and Television.

Unger speaks six languages{{cite news|title=Unger Takes Charge of Heidrick Entertainment Practice| last=Hollingsworth| first=Lauren| publisher=Los Angeles Business Journal|date=1998-05-25|quote=Unger himself speaks six languages, and has lived and worked overseas, as well as in the U.S.}} — English, French, Spanish, Italian, German and Portuguese — and has lived and worked in various countries outside the United States for over ten years.

In 1971, while living in Spain, he and his brother Anthony, along with two friends, co-founded,{{cite news|title=A Star is Born-Spanish Burgers a la Hollywood| last=Hulse| first=Jerry| newspaper=LA Times|date=1973-09-23}} built, owned and operated Foster's Hollywood — Spain’s first American-food/Hollywood-themed restaurants. He and his partners sold the restaurant chain in 1976.{{cite web|url=http://www.tormo.com/articulos/372/Historia_de_Exito:_Fosters_Hollywood,_mezcla_del_genuino_sabor_america.htm |title=Historia de Éxito: Foster's Hollywood, mezcla del genuino sabor americano y la magia del cine |publisher=tormo.com |access-date=2009-03-10}} As of 2009, Foster's Hollywood is the 11th largest franchise restaurant chain in Europe{{cite web|title=Franchise Europe Top 500|url=http://www.franchisedirect.co.uk/top500/fostershollywood/11/305/|access-date=2009-08-27}} with over 140 restaurants in Spain.{{cite web|title=La auténtica parrilla americana en España|url=http://www.zena.com/Fosters.html|access-date=2009-08-27|archive-date=2009-05-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522113045/http://www.zena.com/Fosters.html|url-status=dead}}

Unger served as associate producer{{cite news|url=http://tv.nytimes.com/show/64717/Verna-USO-Girl/credits|title=Verna: USO Girl|work=New York Times|access-date= 2009-03-17}} on the Emmy Award-winning 1978 telefeature Verna: USO Girl, starring Sissy Spacek, William Hurt and Howard Da Silva. Subsequently, he held a number of senior corporate positions, including Vice President, International Sales and Acquisitions of Universal Pictures (NBC Universal);{{cite web |url=http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/x3832.xml |title=Executive Search Executive Stephen Unger Profiles the Entertainment Industry for Students at The Anderson School at UCLA |access-date=2009-03-09 |archive-date=2010-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100710002332/http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/x3832.xml |url-status=dead }} Vice President, International Distribution of CBS Theatrical Films (CBS, Inc.){{cite news|title=Unger Takes Charge of Heidrick Entertainment Practice| last=Hollingsworth| first=Lauren| publisher=Los Angeles Business Journal|date=1998-05-25}} and Senior Vice President, International Sales of Filmways Pictures, Inc. (later absorbed into MGM).{{cite news|title=Heads will Stroll|date=October 1998|pages=116–117|publisher=Channel 21 International}}

In March 1982, Stephen Unger established Unger Int'l Distributors Inc and, in 1984, he and his brother Anthony founded The Unger Co. Based in Hollywood, the corporation was conceived as "a cross fertilization of producing, distributing and co-financing motion pictures and television product". Its most successful activities were in overseas distribution of major studio American films on behalf of such clients as Procines S.A. in Spain, Parkfilm S.A. in Switzerland, Conate S.A. in Chile and Rediffusion Swiss Cable. Some of the motion pictures acquired by Unger International Distributors on behalf of its territorial distributors included Amadeus, Cabaret, The Chosen, Intermezzo, Notorious, The Outsiders, Spellbound and They Shoot Horses, Don't They?.

At the time of the corporation's founding, Unger stated that, "As a matter of fact and pride, when my brother and I joined forces we were carrying on a family tradition started in 1934 when our late father Oliver A. Unger began his own career in the movie industry". He continued, "In an industry where we have spent our entire working careers, we have established valuable relationships on every level of production, distribution and exhibition, both nationally and internationally. In a sense, Tony and I working together is the fulfillment of a family dream"."Brothers Unite Under Unger Co. Banner" (Movie/TV Marketing, April 1984, pp. 5–7). Retrieved 2021-2-15.

In 1988, Unger became an executive recruiter and joined Korn/Ferry International, where he served as a Partner and a Managing Director of its Worldwide Entertainment and Communications Practice.{{cite news|title=It's a wide, wide world for Hollywood executives| last=Stremfel| first=Michael| publisher=Los Angeles Business Journal|date=1989-12-11}} He remained there until 1991 when he joined Spencer Stuart as a Partner and Managing Director of its Worldwide Entertainment and Communications Practice.{{cite news|title=Son in law still may rise but studios tilt now towards pros| last=Ginsberg| first=Steve| publisher=Los Angeles Business Journal|date=1992-10-10}}{{cite news|title=GATT: Wasserman Wins, Valenti Loses| last=Citron| first=Alan| newspaper=LA Times|date=1993-12-17}} In 1998, Unger joined Heidrick & Struggles’ Global Media and Entertainment Practice as managing partner{{cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117470743.html?categoryid=18&cs=1| first= Cynthia| last=Littleton| title=Unger joins Heidrick| publisher=Daily Variety |access-date=2009-04-22|page=5 | date=1998-05-13}} and news of his own recruitment to the firm was reported on the front page of the Wall Street Journal.{{cite news|title=Star Wars: Headhunting firms angle for each others' top recruiters |publisher=Wall Street Journal|date=1998-05-12|page=A1}} In 2003, he started KSMU LLC,{{cite news|title=Recruiters Hold Star Power|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-dec-25-fi-headhunter25-story.html|last=Verrier| first=Richard| newspaper=LA Times|date=2004-12-25}} a boutique executive search firm.

Leonard Armato, longtime Association of Volleyball Professionals Commissioner, described Unger "as one of the top people in sports and entertainment as far as searching for top executives"{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article.preview&articleID=9443 |title=Sports headhunting on rise|first=Dan|last=Weil|publisher=Sports Business Journal|date=2000-06-12|access-date=2009-04-22}} and he has been recognized by The Sporting News' 14-member panel of executives and editors{{cite web|url=http://archive.sportingnews.com/features/powerful/whatis.html |title=What is Power |publisher=Sporting News |access-date=2009-04-22}} in their annual "100 Most Powerful" list, including #63 in 2001.{{cite web|url=http://archive.sportingnews.com/features/powerful/51-75.html |title=100 Most Powerful |publisher=Sporting News |access-date=2009-03-09}} He has also been named #65 on CableFAX Magazine's “100 Most Influential in Cable” List.{{cite web |url=http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/x3832.xml |title=Executive Search Executive Stephen Unger Profiles the Entertainment Industry for Students at The Anderson School at UCLA |access-date=2009-08-27 |archive-date=2010-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100710002332/http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/x3832.xml |url-status=dead }}

Unger led the recruitment search for Michael Wolf in his move from Booz Allen to McKinsey & Company in 2001, which "shook up the industry."{{cite news|title=Michael Wolf quits Booz-Allen for McKinsey|last=Lieberman| first=Allyson| publisher=New York Post|date=2001-03-09|quote=Industry sources say Wolf resigned from Booz-Allen yesterday after he was aggressively pursued by McKinsey & Co. The search was led by Steve Unger of Heidrick & Struggles.}} He has been quoted in the media regarding senior executive searches,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/17/magazine/culture-zone-hollywood-roulette.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all| title=Culture Zone; Hollywood Roulette| first=Judith|last=Brennan| work=New York Times|date=1999-01-17|access-date=2009-04-22}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-yahoo111405,0,4521908,full.story|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102083110/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-yahoo111405,0,4521908,full.story|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-11-02| title=Can Yahoo Sign On to Hollywood| first=Chris|last=Gaither| newspaper=LA Times|date=2005-11-14|access-date=2009-04-22}} succession plans,{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-dec-03-wp-60548-story.html| title=GE Succession a Leadership Lesson| first=Lisa|last=Girion| newspaper=LA Times|date=2000-12-03|access-date=2009-04-22}}{{cite news|title=Son in law still may rise but studios tilt now towards pros| last=Ginsberg| first=Steve| publisher=Los Angeles Business Journal|date=1992-10-19}} remuneration,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/23/business/start-ups-raise-pay-and-offer-options-as-candidates-dwindle.html| title=Start-Ups Raise Pay and Offer Options as Candidates Dwindle| first=David|last=Leonhardt| work=New York Times|date=2000-03-23|access-date=2009-04-22}}{{cite news|title=Media's big game: headhunting| last=Trigoboff| first=Dan| publisher=Broadcasting & Cable|date=1999-12-13|pages=50–58}} employee retention,{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2002/01/07/316039/index.htm| title=Has Eisner Lost the Disney Magic? The company has been walloped by terror and recession. But its problems start at the top| first=Marc|last=Gunther| publisher=Fortune Magazine|date=2002-01-07|access-date=2009-04-22}} and contract negotiations,{{cite news|url=http://8.12.42.31/1998/nov/19/news/mn-44493|title=In Hollywood, it's Take My Job...Please|first=Claudia|last=Eller|newspaper=LA Times|date=1998-11-19|access-date=2009-04-22}}{{Dead link|date=July 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} as well as market trends{{cite news|title=Entertainment Companies Seek Stars for Top Roles| last=Capell| first=Perri| publisher=Wall Street Journal|date=2002-02-27}} and suggestions for terminated employees.{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1996/01/15/207175/index.htm| title=What to do if you Get Fired| first=Marshall|last=Loeb| publisher=Fortune Magazine |date=1996-01-15|access-date=2009-04-22}} He has been invited to speak as a guest lecturer at a number of major universities, including Stanford{{cite news|title=The Future of Content|date=2003-04-05|page=22|publisher=Stanford Graduate School of Business}} and UCLA.

Since its inception in 2012, Unger is a co-founding member of non-profit VoteRiders' Board of Directors{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Ken Schwencke, Mike Tigas, Sisi Wei, Alec Glassford, Andrea Suozzo, Brandon |date=2013-05-09 |title=Voteriders - Nonprofit Explorer |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/455081831 |access-date=2022-07-15 |website=ProPublica |language=en}} and serves as chairman of its governance committee.

His wife of over 40 years is Kathleen Unger, M.B.A., J.D.{{cite web|url=https://ffslaw.com/professionals/kathleen-unger/|access-date=2009-08-28|title=State Bar of California}} Mrs. Unger is Of Counsel at the law firm Freeman, Freeman & Smiley{{cite web|title=Kathleen Unger, Of Counsel|url=http://www.ffslaw.com/attorney-profile/unger-kathleen|access-date=2012-06-24}}{{Dead link|date=July 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} as well as founder, chairman and president of the non-profit organization VoteRiders.{{cite web|title=VoteRiders|url=http://voteriders.com/about|access-date=2012-06-24}}

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Category:American film studio executives

Category:American television executives

Category:American restaurateurs

Category:1946 births

Category:Living people

Category:Beverly Hills High School alumni

Category:Syracuse University alumni

Category:Tisch School of the Arts alumni

Category:Writers from New York City

Category:Television producers from New York City