Ivan S. Kronenfeld, Ph.D.
A founding partner of KKP, Ivan passed away in 2018. While his wit and wisdom are irreplaceable, Ivan’s legacy of outside of the box thinking, personalized attention and relentless pursuit of opportunities for our clients lives on, vibrant as ever.
Ivan’s background, spanned the worlds of academia, entertainment and private investigation, it gave him a keen understanding of human nature and behavior which proved invaluable in business. Ivan was involved in every facet of entertainment from teaching and producing, to writing and directing. As strategic planner, Ivan worked with highly accomplished individuals, business enterprises, not for profit organizations and a variety of interest groups, guiding them to fully exploit their expertise through strategic networking and media opportunities. Ivan specialized in developing key relationships across a broad spectrum of industries and disciplines. At KKP, he integrated the knowledge of public affairs, business process, and communications to effectively expand the impact and reach of his clients.
“Special thanks are due to Ivan Kronenfeld, my friend and most unlikely of renaissance men. It was at his insistence that I wrote a memoir, and he persisted despite my first refusing and then ignoring his entreaties.
But he is tougher than I, and he prevailed.
His is a most successful technique, espoused by Sun Tzu and practiced with great success by Mao Tse-tung: jab, run, jab, rope-a-dope, jab again and again – and eventually wear the poor guy down. This book was his idea, and so if it isn’t any good, blame Ivan”
-Colonel Jack Jacobs (Ret.)
In addition to producing many books, Ivan was an author, having written The Secret Life of Dr. James Miranda Barry with his wife Anne Byrne. His advice and guidance has been acknowledged in several books notably You: The Owner’s Manual co-authored by Dr. Mehmet Oz and Turbulent Souls by Freakonomics co-author Stephen Dubner.
Ivan co-produced “Wishes Fulfilled”, a special cinema presentation starring Dr. Wayne Dyer, with Cinema Events, LLC, produced in cooperation with Hay House, Inc. and distributed by Screenvision. He served as creative consultant to the weekly Discovery Channel series “Second Opinion with Dr Oz.” Currently, he served as Executive Producer of the award winning Internet radio show, “Frankly Speaking about Cancer with The Wellness Community.”
“To Ivan Kronenfeld, who asked me two years ago why I never talked about men.
Not only did he introduce me to a whole spectrum of spectacular soldiers, boxers, policemen, educators and lawyers, but he reminded me when this book was finished to thank them all for their spectacular bravery and their uncompromising willingness to do all the difficult and brutally hard things we ask of men.”
-Dr. Marianne J. Legato, MD FACP
He was the founder of both the Worklight Theatre and the Kronenfeld Conservatory of Acting. Past Conservatory students include Jean Doumanian, producer of numerous Woody Allen films and Off Broadway plays; Howard Kissel, Drama Critic and Arts Editor for The New York Daily News and Stephen Dubner, former editor at The New York Times Magazine. Ivan was also Director of the Professional Acting Program at the Column Theatre and Studio of New York University’s Tisch School for the Arts.
During his academic career, he was Associate Professor at Staten Island Community College. While there, Ivan served as Assistant to the President, William Birenbaum, as well as the Dean of the Experimental College. Additionally, he co-directed the Department of Student Personnel and the University Without Walls. He was also an Adjunct Professor in Urban Community, Human Dynamics and Life Experience Workshop at the College of New Rochelle.
“My friend Ivan Kronenfeld goaded me to write the book from the beginning and provided consistently insightful advice every week for three years.”
-Robert J. Shapiro
Ivan was a partner in Dellaventura Investigations, a private investigation firm that counted as clients Twentieth Century Fox, the Motion Picture Association of America, Harry Connick Jr., Squadron, Ellenoff, Plesent & Lehrer and Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
Ivan was a member of the Gerson Lehrman Group Councils, an unparalleled network of the world’s leading expert consultants. He appeared in many news features nationally and locally, including ABC Nightline, NBC Nightly News, The New York Times Magazine and The New York Sun. He was also a guest several times on the nationally syndicated radio program The Joey Reynolds Show.
“an actor, a deal-maker, a raconteur and a scholar of boxing and psychology”. – The New York Times
Interview on Dr. Mehmet Oz
Oprah and Friends/XM Radio
Interview on Dr. Mehmet Oz Oprah and Friends XM Radio “Dr. Oz’s Mentor”
Dr. Oz’s Mentor
Ivan was a close friend and mentor of Dr. Oz, and he helped Dr. Oz begin his career as an author and media figure. Ivan talks with Dr. Oz about his life and outlook on the future problems of America.