Leonard Stern

Leonard Norman Stern is an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He is the chairman and CEO of the privately owned Hartz Group based in New York City. The company’s real estate portfolio was owned and operated under its Hartz Mountain Industries subsidiary company, of which he is also chairman and CEO.

• Leonard Stern joined his father Max’s pet supply business in 1959. Seven years later he expanded into real estate, acquiring a New Jersey warehouse.
• His Hartz Mountain firm owns over 260 real estate properties, mostly in the New Jersey area.
• Most of Hartz’s portfolio is in warehouses. It recently expanded beyond its New Jersey base to Atlanta, Baltimore and Charlotte, N.C.
• Stern sold the pet business for $350 million in 2000. He has also ventured into publishing, energy, capital management and carpet cleaning.
• Many know his name thanks to his $30 million donation 30 years ago to New York University‘s business school, renamed in his honor.